How to Store Your Flower: Tips to Keep Cannabis Storage Hassle-Free

All good things must come to an end. While it’s unfortunate to see a good cannabis product reach its decline, you can slow down the process by practicing expert storage techniques. And no, it’s not enough to toss your buds in a bag and hope for the best. 

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Whether to pack things away for a tolerance break or just extend the shelf-life of your flower overall, you’ll need to know how to avoid decay and keep your bud stable. 

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Below, we’ll spill all the details on how to keep cannabis flowers fresh in storage, how to tell when flower has gone bad, and tips for keeping other products in top shape.

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Cannabis Storage Tips to Keep Flower Fresh

The best strategy to keep flower fresh is to steer clear of things that make cannabinoids and terpenes break down. Exposure to extreme environments and the elements wreaks havoc on organic compounds. 

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You can create a neutral and safe environment for your cannabis by ticking the following boxes.

#1: Keep it Dry

Moisture is not your friend here unless you happen to like inhaling mold and mildew. But this doesn’t just mean keeping your bud physically dry, it also means ensuring it’s not exposed to high humidity levels. 

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Keep flower in areas that are relatively stable and aren’t prone to getting swampy (think basements, rooms without dehumidifiers, etc.)

#2: Keep it Cool

Heat is what transforms the cannabinoids in your flower into ones that can enter and bind with receptors in your body. But when heat gets added to the equation beforehand, it can damage and break down these compounds, leaving you with a lackluster smoking experience.

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Most cannabis connoisseurs recommend storing flower at temperatures between 55 and 65℉. A cooler part of your home is probably the best place to turn to. Closets, pantries, cabinets, and similar spots that don’t get sunlight usually stay within this range without much effort on your part.

#3: Keep it Dark

Exposure to sunlight is a one-way ticket to decomposition for cannabinoids. Of course, a bit of light isn’t going to necessarily spell trouble, but direct and continuous sun will likely compromise your cannabis. 

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Make sure to store your product out of the sun and preferably somewhere that stays dark in general for the best results.

#4: Keep it Safe

Air can dry out your bud and leave it prone to mold or other forms of decay. Make sure you seal out air with a lid that closes entirely. From there, you can keep your container somewhere it won’t fall or break.

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How to Store Weed: Additional Do’s and Don’ts

Keeping your cannabis in a dry, cool, and air-tight environment should help you prolong its shelf life as long as possible. Still, there are a few more steps you can take to help things stay fresh and safe over time.

Do: Label and date your product.

Noting your weed measurements and product information on your storage container makes it easy to quickly see what you have and when to use it. Use a piece of masking tape or attach a small piece of paper to your container and write down important details and the date you’re packing it with a permanent marker. 

Don’t: Stick it in the freezer.

Your fridge or freezer might seem like the perfect dark, temperature-controlled space to store flower. 

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However, each is prone to higher humidity levels that can cause molding and breakdown of your product. Plus, most fridges and especially freezers are too cold to keep flower at its ideal temperature. 

Do: Choose the right container.

Make sure your container is air-tight and durable. Glass jars or mason jars are popular options, but you can use other things, too. Even a plastic bag can come through in a pinch. 

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If you can’t store your flower somewhere dark, consider an opaque container or try covering exposed areas with tape or paper. 

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And, while it might be tempting to put your flower in containers with other things to mask its scent, there are other, better ways to figure out how to store weed. Smell-proof bags and containers are options that help you keep your dank tucked away discreetly.

Don’t: Leave it out in the open.

Your sealed-up container should have a home. Leaving it out on the countertop, windowsill, or anywhere else that’s open might lead to the accidental breaking of your container. 

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If you live with other people, especially children, or with pets, keeping your product out of reach helps ensure your storage efforts don’t go to waste.

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Does Weed Get Old? How to Tell if Cannabis is Bad

When you need to check in on your cannabis, you can trust your senses to determine whether it’s good or bad. 

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When in doubt, it’s usually best to err on the side of caution. Most flower has a shelf life of about six months to a year when stored properly, so it’s probably best not to roll up with the bud you’ve had since you were a newbie. 

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Below are more things to remember to tell if cannabis has gone bad.

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• Scent: Cannabis smells strong – in fact, it’s usually true that the danker and skunkier your flower is, the better. But, when you get a whiff that smells more mildewy or stale than loud, it’s probably time to toss your flower. This can clearly indicate that cannabinoids and terpenes have begun to break down.
• Look: Weed that’s past its prime will likely be discolored. You might notice brown and amber-colored trichomes (the shiny bits that coat your bud), which are a hallmark sign of flower that’s gone bad. The body of your flower may be faded or darkened.
• Feel: Fresh, high-quality bud should feel light, slightly sticky, and soft. Flower that’s aged tends to be dry and brittle. It might crumble easily or fall apart in its container. On the flip side, bud that’s too moist and prone to mold might seem to tear rather than fall apart. 

More Ways to Keep Cannabis: Storage for Other Products

Storing your flower properly is vital, but storing other types of cannabis products can be just as important. How you treat your products directly impacts how they’ll treat you in return. Be kind to your cannabis by keeping it in an ideal environment, and it can last you for up to several years, depending on the product.

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Concentrates

There aren’t many surprises when it comes to storing concentrate – keep it dry, cool, and protected in an air-tight container, and you should be good to go. 

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Some people choose to freeze concentrates to keep them around for a longer time, but as we know, doing this can break down some of the cannabinoids in your product. Since concentrates are often very strong, this might not be a big deal to you. So, freeze at your own risk.

Edibles and Drinks

A good rule of thumb here is that if it comes cold, it should stay cold (and vice versa). In some cases, you might only need to refrigerate something after it’s been opened. Some edible products might even have storage instructions written on them to make it easy for you. 

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Decarbed cannabinoids are used in edible products, and they operate a little differently than the raw cannabinoids in flower. They usually last for around three to six months before they begin to break down, and they’ve already been exposed to temperatures that change their molecular structure. 

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So, it’s okay to break the “no fridge” rule here, at least so long as it makes sense for your product. Remember that other ingredients in your edibles can still go bad, and keeping them in good shape is essential. Food poisoning is never a good time.

Tinctures and Oils

In general, tinctures and oils can be stored in the container they come in for up to a year or two. 

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Most packaging is opaque and thick enough to protect the cannabinoids in your product already. If that’s not the case, you can switch your oil to a more secure container and keep it stored somewhere safe, like a cabinet or pantry.

Joints and Pre-Rolls

Make sure you place any joints, blunts, etc., in a sealable container, like a glass lunch container with an air-tight lid. It’s not a bad idea to keep them wrapped in any paper or packaging they come in for some extra protection.

Final Thoughts

By keeping flower and other products dry, cool, and sealed off from air, you can stash them away for up to a year or longer. Find a system that works and stick to it.

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We know that your cannabis products are a valuable investment worth protecting. That’s why we take care to educate and support cannabis shoppers as they navigate the solutions that work for them. 

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To learn more about how to find and use products that fit your needs, feel free to contact us for a consultation.

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