How to combat the mould on cannabis flowers?
You can't avoid mould
The hemp flower has a typical cone-like shape. It is harvested and further processed. The demand for the flowers is constantly growing and they are very popular among users. However, cultivation takes time and experience. It is extremely difficult to protect them from mould.
The fresh flower is covered with sticky powder from trichomes. These are fibres that remotely resemble fine hairs and give cannabis flowers their unique flavour and aroma and can enhance their effects. However, other coatings can also appear on the plant. At first glance, it looks almost identical to trichomes, but on closer inspection it is clear that it is a fungus.
How to recognize mold:
- Whitish coating (trichomes are lightly coloured purple, golden or green)
- Dull appearance
- Odour typical of mould
You can smell mould immediately. It is a bitter smell that overpowers the typical smell of cannabis flowers. You'll smell dust and mustiness. On contact, the mould 'dusts off' and is not sticky like a trichome coating.
Where does the mould come from?
Mould develops in an environment where there is excessive moisture. Cannabis plants can be affected at any time during cultivation or subsequent drying and storage. If a large proportion of moisture remains in the flowers, as in tomatoes or aubergines, which suffer a lot from mould, the first white deposits appear quite quickly and gradually spread. Once the flower is infected, it cannot be saved.
The only way to avoid mould is prevention and consistency in every step of growing, drying and processing. It may be that the flowers go through all the stages, but in the end you speed up the drying and pack them (and put them in transit) a little earlier. In a sealed bag and in a warm environment, even a small amount of moisture can cause mould to grow. In a place with a higher temperature and insufficient airflow, mould gains strength much faster than on loose flowers. In this case, it uses organic matter as nutrients for its growth.
What to do with moldy flowers?
Everyone has a different attitude to mould. It is considered that it should not harm the organism, but one naturally avoids it. It can cause lung infections, digestive problems or negatively affect the immune system. Coughing, wheezing or vomiting may also occur in more sensitive people. Some growers recommend cutting off the mouldy parts of the flowers. But even this may not solve the problem. Moisture accumulates near the stem, where the flower is thickest. Although you can't see the mould inside the flower, that doesn't mean it hasn't grown deeper into the plant.
How to prevent mould?
Mould is unavoidable, despite our best efforts it will appear from time to time. Most often they make themselves known during storage, when you feel that the flowers have survived the growing and drying process unscathed and are more or less safe.
Three steps for mould-free flowers:
- Storage in a cool, dry place (store flowers in glass containers in a dark place with a constant (lower) temperature)
- Keeping out of the sun (cannabis flowers are fine in the fresh air, but if they are in a closed container, moisture accumulates inside and creates an ideal environment for mould)
- Use moisture bags (excessive moisture causes mould, zero moisture can cause dried and brittle flowers. Moisture bags are made specifically to keep trichomes in cannabis buds)
Two storage errors
Cannabis flowers are quite sensitive to the environment and are constantly "working". Some people try to prevent mould in various ways, but most of them hurt the flowers. Putting them in dark jars that light can't get through can help, but this method is not recommended in the long term. There is no substitute for darkness, dryness and lower temperatures. Storage in the freezer is not a happy option either. Vegetables with a high water content, which have a relatively high risk of mould, may last a little longer in a cold environment than in the air, but this is not the case with cannabis flowers. Moisture disturbs the trichomes and the plant loses its natural flavour and aroma.
Summary
Cannabis flowers are very susceptible to mould and cannot be prevented 100%. On the other hand, there are practices, such as setting the right temperature and darkness, that can keep humidity at bay and create an environment for the flowers that minimises the risk of mould infestation.
Photo: Shutterstock
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