If you consume weed regularly, you must have faced some of the following situations: one, rummaging through your stash only to discover that the baggie of weed you have is completely brittle, or two, finding an old stash that looks too dry to be smoked.
Well, weed gets dry over time, especially when not stored properly. It’s just the nature of things, and even dank weed isn’t immune to it and will dry out eventually. However, with some simple chemistry, you can revive dry ganja and still smoke it. Don’t believe us? See for yourself, because in this article, we’ll present you with some hacks for rehydrating weed and enjoying it just as usual.
How to Moisten Dry Weed
A baggie of dry marijuana nugs is a bummer, but you can salvage them with a number of simple DIY rehydration hacks. You don’t need to be an expert to do this, all you need is a Ziploc bag or a glass jar, some water, and a common product you probably have at home.
Try Citrus Fruit Peels for an Aromatic Experience
Using citrus fruit peels is the most commonly used method for rehydrating dry ganja. Lemon and orange peels have a good moisture content and are rich in essential oils that can also impart a nice aroma on the dry nugs and make them more pleasant for smoking.
Rehydrate Cannabis With Bread
It may sound strange, but you can use bread to moisten dry buds. Bread has a moisture content of about 40% which is good for not overly dry cannabis. However, make sure that the bread is fresh, as stale bread won’t be enough to rehydrate the nugs.
Use Some Herbs to Bring Back Moisture
This may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you want to refresh the aroma and taste of dry marijuana when you rehydrate it, you can also use some edible fresh herbs. Mint and cilantro are common refreshing choices, but you can always try others.
Lettuce Is Great for Rehydrating
Lettuce, especially iceberg lettuce, is awesome because it contains 96% water. Unlike fruit peels and herbs, it won’t change the aroma of the buds, but it will rehydrate them well. You probably won’t need more than a leaf as lettuce is very hydrating.
Use Slices of Apples for a Fruity Aroma
Apples are incredibly juicy, so using a slice to rehydrate your cannabis buds is a great choice. This will not only bring back the moisture, but it’ll also impart a subtle fruity aroma, which can make a big difference if the baggie is a Reggie.
Try Putting Wet Cotton Balls in the Baggie
Cotton balls can also come in handy when you need to moisten dry weed. All you need to do is wet the cotton balls, squeeze the excess water, wrap them in aluminum foil, and poke tiny holes through the foil so that the moisture can escape. It requires a little more effort than the other methods, but if you’re ever in a pinch, remember this hack.
Simply Use Paper Towels If Nothing Else
Paper towels are a common product that most people have at home at all times, so whenever you need to rehydrate some ganja, using moistened paper towels is a very easy way to do it. Just place the paper towels at the bottom and put the nugs on top. If the weed is very dry, sandwich it between the paper towels.
You Can Even Use a Sponge
It may sound weird, but you can cut off a tiny piece of sponge, moisten it, and put it in the jar or bag with the dry weed. However, as sponges can hold a lot of water, make sure to not get it too wet to avoid creating excess moisture.
Try Fresh Cannabis Buds to Keep Them Good Company
Fresh cannabis buds hold a lot of moisture, so placing them with the dry buds will really help, plus they will impart some original cannabis flavor to the dry buds to refresh them. You can also use fan leaves as they also have a high moisture content, though they may impart a more grassy flavor.
If All Else Fails, Use Boveda Packs
Boveda packs are used to maintain humidity levels during the curing process, but you can also use them to rehydrate cannabis. They are available in different humidity percentages, so just choose a higher percentage to get the full benefits. Place a Boveda pack in a jar with the nugs, give it a few hours to work its magic, and they’ll be ready for you to enjoy them.
Be Careful, Though, Too Much Moisture Creates Mold
It may be hard to believe, but you can actually create too much moisture when you try to rehydrate weed as even dry weed has its limit for how much moisture it can absorb. Excess moisture creates moldy weed, so while you wait for the nugs to rehydrate, check on them a few times.
Prevent Cannabis From Losing Moisture by Storing It Properly
Since the number one reason for cannabis drying out is improper storage, knowing how to store it properly to keep it fresh for a long time can solve the problem.
1. Store In an Airtight Container
First and foremost, you should store the nugs in an airtight container that won’t let any air exchange with the environment. This will not only preserve the moisture, but also the cannabinoid and terpene content, plus it’ll keep the smell out. Mason jars are the most common pick among weed enthusiasts, but any glass jar with a good sealing mechanism will do.
Just make sure to avoid plastic bags for long-term storage as they are porous and hold a static charge which can damage the trichomes. Finally, store the weed in a cool and dark place because light degrades the THC and CBD.
2. Use Boveda Humidity Control Packs
Besides storing it properly, the key to preserving cannabis is maintaining proper relative humidity levels. Cannabis needs an environment that’s not too dry nor too moist in order to stay fresh for a long time.
The easiest way to control the humidity and keep the buds from drying out is to use Boveda humidity control packs. They are disposable and self-regulating, specifically designed to maintain the relative humidity in a jar of cannabis nugs.
The Takeaway – Despair Not, There Is Hope for Dry Buds
No one likes dry buds, but if you find a forgotten baggie somewhere in your closet on a day where you have no spare stash, you’ll probably hate them a little less (especially when you know how to rehydrate them). Using the hacks we provided you can restore those nugs so you can enjoy them just fine. Sure, rehydrated weed won’t taste as well as fresh weed, but most of the time it’ll do (so as to not let it go to waste). So next time, prevent the weed from drying out by storing it in an airtight container (and it’ll be alright).
