Northern Lights Seeds

How to Dry and Store Finished Northern Lights Buds?

Drying Northern Lights buds? It’s not rocket science, but it’s not just “hang it and hope” either. You’ve babied this plant for months—don’t screw it up now. This is the part where patience either pays off or punches you in the gut.

First, chop the plant. Whole or branch-by-branch, your call. I like to cut branches, easier to manage, less chaos. Trim off the big fan leaves—those suckers don’t do anything for you now. You can wet trim the sugar leaves too if you want a cleaner look, but some folks wait till after drying. Depends how sticky you wanna get.

Now hang 'em. Dark room, decent airflow, 60°F-ish (15-20°C), 50-60% humidity. Don’t overthink it. Just don’t let it get too hot or too damp or you’ll get mold, and mold is death. Literal trash. Use a fan, but don’t point it right at the buds unless you like crispy outsides and soggy insides.

Drying takes time. 7 to 14 days, give or take. You’ll know they’re ready when the small stems snap instead of bend. Not the big ones—those lie. Snap test is real. If it feels like snapping a tiny pencil, you’re golden.

Now the cure. This is where the magic happens—or doesn’t. Get some glass jars, wide-mouth mason jars work great. Toss the buds in, but don’t pack them tight. They need to breathe. Like, seriously. Don’t suffocate them. Fill the jar about ¾ full. Lid on.

First week? Open the jars once or twice a day. Let 'em breathe for 10-15 minutes. This is called “burping,” which sounds dumb but it’s necessary. You’re letting out moisture and gases that build up. If you skip this, you might as well throw your weed in a swamp and call it art.

After a week, you can chill a bit. Burp every couple days. After two weeks, maybe once a week. Some people cure for a month, others go 3 months or more. Depends how patient you are and how fancy you want your smoke to be. Longer cure = smoother hit, better flavor, stronger high. Usually. Unless you mess it up.

Storage? Cool, dark place. No sunlight, no heat. UV light degrades THC—kills your buzz. Don’t store in plastic bags unless you enjoy disappointment. Glass is king. Humidity packs (like Boveda 62%) help if you're paranoid about moisture. I use them sometimes. Sometimes I forget. Life goes on.

And don’t keep opening the jars just to sniff your stash. I know it smells amazing. That’s the terpenes. But every time you open it, you’re letting them escape. Be strong.

Anyway, that’s the gist. Dry slow, cure smart, store right. Northern Lights deserves that kind of love. It’s not just weed—it’s a damn experience. Treat it like one.