The moisture proportion of marijuana is a crucial determine to know, however the shift in that proportion when buds go from drying, to curing, to packaging on the market are — for probably the most half — mysterious and subjective.
In my guide “Marijuana Harvest,” we offer varied assessments for figuring out moisture all through the phases of post-harvest processing. None provides a very goal measurement, however the neighborhood makes use of them on a regular basis for need of a greater system.
After I requested bud processors about this hole, some had theories about what the correct hashish moisture content material must be, however few had been even prepared to enterprise a guess when it got here to quantifying a selected pattern. Processors additionally had theories on the correct humidity (and temperature) of the drying, curing and storage areas and use automated local weather management to manage these components.
One technique to measure the moisture proportion of a leaf or bud is to weigh a small quantity and place it in an oven at 80 levels till it’s crispy and dry. Then measure the distinction between its pre and post-oven weight and divide that quantity by the unique weight of the moist materials — the ensuing quantity is the share of moisture.
Instance:
100 grams of dried, un-manicured buds had been weighed out, then positioned in a low-temperature oven till they had been crispy. After they had been weighed once more, their weight got here to 91.5 grams, a distinction of 8.5 grams from their pre-treatment weight. Taking 8.5 divided by the burden of the unique, leads to the share of moisture (8.5 %) within the un-treated bud.
If there was an goal device that might assist with this chore, processors would have a extra correct evaluation — one which wouldn’t require the ability of an artisan to make use of, simply the attention of a skilled employee.
Current experiments I’ve carried out present that there is an goal technique to measure moisture content material utilizing a wooden moisture meter. I’ve been utilizing one which has a contact pad and it’s been giving an correct studying based mostly on the subtractive check described above.
There are a minimum of two kinds of moisture meters. I choose to make use of the type that comes with two probes, about 1-1½ inches aside and protruding lower than half an inch, with a contact pad sensor.
I get probably the most correct outcomes once I set the meter on the “softwood” setting and maintain the fabric firmly in opposition to the pad with a chunk of exhausting plastic — the readout takes a few second.
And even when the precise quantity isn’t strictly correct, so long as it’s constant, it may be used as an ordinary. Within the hashish neighborhood there was a widespread opinion that 12 % moisture is an effective content material of water for smoking in a joint that gained’t exit — it’s additionally the share at which small sticks audibly snap.
If in case you have examined the meter in opposition to these two subjective however correct assessments and the meter reads 12 %, all is properly. Ought to the meter have a distinct readout, however one which’s constant, you’ll nonetheless at all times know the bud is prepared when it hits that quantity, offered the opposite standards are met.
Proposed moisture readings for varied humidity ranges of processing and smoking:
Drying ends: 14-15%
Curing ends: 11-12%
Nice smoke: 10-12%
Harsh dry smoke: 10% or much less
Excerted from “Marijuana Harvest: Maximizing High quality and Yield in Your Hashish Backyard.”
