Curing is what turns freshly dried cannabis into smooth, flavorful buds. During this stage, growers use jars to slowly balance out moisture levels inside the flower. The trick is knowing how long to leave those jars open each time. Open them too often and your buds can dry out fast. Skip it for too long and trapped moisture can cause mold.
Finding the right balance is what gives your harvest that rich aroma, smooth smoke, and long shelf life. This guide breaks down exactly how long to keep jars open during curing so your flower stays fresh and fragrant from start to finish.
Understanding the Curing Process
Curing is all about patience and control. Once the buds are dry to the touch but still hold a bit of internal moisture, they’re ready for jars. Inside a sealed jar, leftover moisture slowly moves from the center of each bud to the outside, creating even dryness. This process helps break down chlorophyll, which gives fresh flower that harsh, grassy taste.
When done right, curing brings out the best of your cultivars by preserving terpenes and improving smoothness. It’s what separates good cannabis from great cannabis. Most growers cure for at least four weeks, keeping an eye on humidity and adjusting jar time as needed to keep the environment steady.
Why the Jar Needs to Be Opened (Burping Explained)
Opening the jar during curing, also called burping, keeps the environment inside from getting too humid or stale. When cannabis is first sealed, moisture and gases trapped inside the buds start to build up. Burping the jars lets that excess moisture escape and brings in a bit of fresh air.
This quick air exchange helps prevent mold and keeps the relative humidity around 60 to 65 percent, which is ideal for curing. Each time you open the jars, the buds get a small reset that allows them to dry evenly and develop their natural scent and flavor. Skipping this step can lead to uneven curing or unwanted smells from trapped gases.
Ideal Duration for Leaving the Jar Open
During the first two weeks of curing, open your jars once a day for about 10 to 30 minutes. This is when buds are still releasing a good amount of moisture, so daily burping helps them dry evenly without getting too crisp.
By weeks three and four, the buds will start to stabilize. You can reduce burping to every two or three days for about 5 to 10 minutes. Once the humidity inside the jar stays between 58 and 62 percent, the curing process is nearly complete.
After the first month, open the jars only once a week for a few minutes. At this stage, the goal is simply to keep the humidity consistent and protect the terpene profile you’ve worked so hard to maintain.
| Week | Frequency | Duration Open | Target Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Daily | 10–30 mins | 60–65% RH |
| 3–4 | Every 2–3 days | 5–10 mins | 58–62% RH |
| 5+ | Weekly | 5 mins or less | 55–60% RH |
Signs You’re Leaving the Jar Open Too Long
If your buds start feeling crispy or lose their stickiness, you might be leaving the jars open too long. Over-drying can strip away terpenes and reduce the smoothness of your smoke. Another sign is a sudden drop in humidity levels below 55 percent on your hygrometer.
When buds dry out too quickly, they can lose aroma and flavor. You might notice the scent fading or turning grassy again. If that happens, try adding a humidity pack to the jar to bring moisture levels back up slowly. The goal is to keep your buds slightly springy without feeling damp. Consistent texture and a rich smell mean you’ve found the right balance.
FAQs About Leaving the Jar Open When Curing
During the first two weeks, open your jars once a day for 10 to 30 minutes. After that, burp them every few days for 5 to 10 minutes until humidity levels stay steady between 58 and 62 percent.
Leaving the jar open too long can over-dry your buds, causing them to lose aroma and flavor. Aim for short air exchanges to balance moisture without stripping terpenes.
Once your humidity stays between 58 and 62 percent for several days in a row and your buds feel evenly dry, you can stop burping. From there, you can move into long-term storage.
Not really. Burping allows trapped moisture and gases to escape, which keeps your buds from molding. Skipping it can lead to uneven curing or a harsh taste later on.
Keep your jars around 60 to 65 percent humidity for the first couple of weeks, then around 58 to 62 percent after that. A small digital hygrometer inside each jar helps you stay on track.
