Growing cannabis for seed is a passion project undertaken by plant-loving breeders of every caliber. Generation after generation, parent plants are selected and tracked, genetics are improved and stabilized through traditional farming methods, and the resulting traits are documented and enjoyed by growers and consumers. On the other hand, some folks grow seeds accidentally when stray pollen from a rogue plant enters the garden. Which seeds are good?

When talking about recognizing quality weed seeds, there are two main considerations: 

• Quality of the future cannabis plant (genetic contents)
• Quality of the seed in terms of its characteristics “as a seed” (i.e., suitability for growing)

This article will assume you are already familiar with the genetic characteristics of the plant you’re planning to grow. It instead examines how to recognize high-quality weed seeds in a batch that you harvested, received as a gift, found in a bud, or bought from a reputable cannabis seed bank. 

What do healthy cannabis seeds look like?

Healthy cannabis seeds are robust, oval-shaped, shiny, dark-colored, firm, and fully formed when harvested. By contrast, immature and unhealthy seeds appear stunted or shrunken on the non-pointy end (the “abscission” area, i.e., the base where the seed was attached to the flower) and may be light green or white.

Cannabis seed identification myths

Almost all cannabis seeds available to consumers today are incredibly similar in appearance. This is due to how closely related the extreme majority of popular and commercially viable cannabis cultivars (strains, as we incorrectly call them) are compared to their wild and landrace ancestors. 

In the 20th century, folks who wanted to grow and breed high-yielding, THC-rich, and fast-finishing (including autoflowering) cannabis under prohibition had a limited selection from which to identify and refine genetics. 

For this reason, many easy-to-grow cannabis types share a lot of DNA. Sometimes nicknamed “OG” or “Old School,” stabilized family lines were (and continue to be) used by contemporary cultivators to experiment with hybrid forms that can improve or present unique spins on existing favorites. 

Some people believe you can tell what you have just by looking at a seed. In fact, historically, folks have shared some creative ideas about identifying future plant characteristics based on the look or character of the seeds. 

Let’s start by answering some questions you may have after hearing popular myths about the appearance of cannabis seeds and what people think it says about their quality: 

Are light or dark weed seeds better?

It is fair to say that dark weed seeds are better for growing than light-colored seeds. This is because the dark color indicates the seeds have completed their journey from pollination to maturity. They have developed all of the protective shell structures necessary to survive until they find the right conditions to germinate and start the cannabis life cycle again. 

On average, fiber cannabis types, which have been forcibly bred with low THC under hemp-growing laws in many parts of the world, tend to display slightly lighter shades of brown.  

Can you recognize feminized or autoflower seeds?

Feminized and autoflower seeds look just like regular and photoperiod seeds. You cannot tell how long a seed will take to grow into a finished plant by looking at it. 

Can you recognize if the resulting plant will be male or female?

It is impossible to recognize whether a resulting plant will be male or female by its seed’s observable qualities. Purchasing feminized seeds and ensuring they are kept separate from any other seeds in your collection is the only way to know your plants will grow to be female.

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Can you tell the strain by a cannabis seed?

You cannot tell the strain of cannabis by looking at a seed. A grower who produces seeds may notice they become familiar with how their seeds look when made by certain plants (as in the case of stabilized lineages). Still, the likelihood of identifying any given strain in, let’s say, a bag of random seeds is next to, if not entirely, impossible. 

Can you even tell if a seed is indica or sativa?

You can’t tell if a seed is indica or sativa from its appearance. 

Indica and sativa cannabis types grown for high cannabinoid content and easy cultivation are hybridized forms of plants selected for those features. 

Unless (until?) you become as passionate about (might I even suggest “obsessed with”?) growing cannabis as some of us around here, most of the good seeds you will encounter in your life as a grower of high-quality cannabis will look very similar. 

Should a cannabis seed have (tiger) stripes?

A lack of stripes is not a good reason to downgrade a cannabis seed, but the presence of stripes or mottling does indicate that its internal structures were mature at harvest. 

Seed striping in cannabis is related to an evolutionary need for camouflage, protecting the seeds dropped by plants from being eaten (by birds, mainly). The genes of a subtype can retain this trait, but it may also not be part of that particular variety’s DNA expression. 

The stripes on a cannabis seed are among the last characteristics to develop, and the layer in which they appear can sometimes be “sloughed off” in the collection and handling process.

There is no reason to insist that a cannabis seed should have stripes to be a good quality seed. 

Does cannabis seed size matter?

Cannabis plant breeding (outside of “hemp” grown specifically for fiber) has created varieties that consistently make larger and more uniform seeds.  

Larger seeds serve the interests of growers seeking more protein and oil from the seed. In the absence of pollination, this portion of the plant’s energy goes to creating the cannabinoid-rich oils found in and on the unseeded, tightly stacked, and plump buds. 

The relative size of a cannabis seed does not matter when it comes to its eventual size: large cannabis seeds will not inherently make bigger plants. 

What color should a good weed seed be?

Color is one important characteristic that seed growers use to evaluate whether their seeds are good enough to sell or to plant for the next crop. The color of the seed indicates its maturity at harvest. There is only a short window of time during which the contents of the seed are fully formed, and the outer shell of the seeds is not. For this reason, a good weed seed is generally dark in color. 

Light or white cannabis seeds

Light or white cannabis seeds were pollinated closer to their harvest date than their counterparts on the same plant. As it takes a minimum of four, but usually more, weeks for cannabis seeds to become mature after pollination, the seed producer is occasionally forced to harvest their plants before some of the seeds have fully developed. 

White or light-colored cannabis seeds can be just as viable as their dark-brown counterparts. However, they are more vulnerable to storage climate conditions (e.g., temperature fluctuations, humidity, dryness) and infection. 

If you have white or light cannabis seeds, attempt to germinate them during the first growing season after you acquired them. Under ideal conditions, older white seeds may still germinate, but you are likely to see a reduction in healthy seedling rates the longer you wait to grow them.

Dark or black cannabis seeds

Dark or black cannabis seeds are ready to propagate their genetics at the time of harvest. High-quality weed seeds are usually dark brown, gray, or black in color. 

Green cannabis seeds

A greenish-white cannabis seed is probably not completely formed inside, and a green color is a strong indicator it will not grow at all. 

Cannabis seeds can retain a green tint until completely formed and dry in the buds. When they are complete, they are ready to withstand the period between the plant’s natural seasons of regrowth. 

Sometimes, seeds are still slightly green because they are very fresh. A greenish-colored brown cannabis seed will usually darken as it dries, to the point where the green color fades or disappears. A green hue on cannabis seeds that was otherwise quite dark when the plants were cut down is not usually a concern.

How can you tell the quality of weed seeds?

You can tell the quality of weed seeds by using the same evaluation criteria as the growers who made them. In commercial seed production, no matter what type of plant is being grown, a uniform harvest of high-quality seeds is the goal. 

When all the seeds in a pack look almost identical, the grower likely had a good handle on the variables to make vigorous seeds with high germination rates and a reasonable storage lifespan. 

Look for fully-matured, oval-shaped seeds with a dark color and firm shell, with no signs of damage. 

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Is the firmness of a marijuana seed an indicator of quality?

The firmness of a seed, which in agricultural regulations is called its “resistance to compression,” is one of the measurable indicators of maturity. Although you may be able to crush good quality seeds if you try (so don’t try too hard!), a seed’s firmness is an indicator that you have a good quality cannabis seed. 

Older seeds can have thick shells.

Seeds with very thick outer shells make it hard for water to penetrate them. The thick outer shell of an older seed may have preserved its viability but may also make your germination period longer. 

Seeds from different batches, harvested from differently mature parts of the same plants, or with different genetics can have varied shell thicknesses. Regardless, ideal germination conditions should be maintained even if the seeds of one type or source have already ‘popped’ (sprouted) while others lag behind.  

Dry or brittle seeds

Seeds subjected to overdrying lose their ability to support themselves through germination. Dry or brittle seeds are considered poor quality. 

What if your seed has a damaged or scratched shell? 

If your seed has a damaged or scratched shell, you may consider this a lower-quality weed seed. Any damage sustained by the seed’s protective coating makes it vulnerable to the elements, compromising the viability of the contents. 

Don’t throw it out, though. A scratched shell is not a reason to discard the seed without attempting to grow it. However, you should lower your expectations for successful germination.  

Seed identification has great potential.

The future may hold fascinating new developments in seed quality and type identification. There is a resurging interest in sourcing, identifying, and protecting global cannabis genetic diversity. 

Using cannabis seeds purchased at a market in Thailand in 2022, a group of scientists recently released the first known open-access dataset containing four thousand images for machine learning (AI-training) purposes. 

With researchers all over the world studying and sharing information about cannabis and its seeds, new data may come out that will put some of the old myths to rest (or perhaps reveal exciting insights!). 

Conclusion

Today, as growers, our ability to estimate the quality of seeds we intend to grow comes down to a few key aspects.

Observations of the seed characteristics and general appearance.

Does it look like it was mature when collected? Was it protected from damage throughout its post-harvest journey from the parent plant to the garden? 

Trust in the seed producer. 

Do you trust your source, especially their skills in cultivating, harvesting, and preserving high-quality cannabis seeds from healthy plants? Do you trust their quality control standards and guarantees? 

Experience. 

What data collection, documentation, and analysis of our own experiences growing high-quality cannabis seeds do you have? What can you tell from what you’ve experienced? 

These are the three things you should always consider when evaluating cannabis seeds. However, when you start with brown, firm, uniform, and not visibly damaged seeds, you give yourself the best chance at success. For high-quality marijuana seeds with guaranteed germination, visit ILGM.com. 

Learn more about cannabis seeds

Be sure to check out the following articles if you want to learn more about cannabis seeds:

Once you’ve got your hands on some high-quality cannabis seeds, don’t forget to download Robert’s free Marijuana Grow Bible and check out the ILGM Grow Support Forum to get growing!

Growers who have handled hydrogen peroxide before know how potentially dangerous it is for plants. In high doses, it can cause cell damage. But, H₂O₂ is something that plants also produce during photosynthesis. It acts like a hormone that regulates growth and development.

In fact, H₂O₂ may potentially speed up the germination process and help your seedlings’ growth and health. If you’re curious to know how to germinate weed seeds with hydrogen peroxide, our step-by-step process will help you go about it.

Should you soak your weed seeds in hydrogen peroxide?

So long as it’s a diluted solution, soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide is a great way to speed up germination. It’s also a good way to sterilize your seeds and remove any bacterial or viral pathogens. But you mustn’t soak your weed seeds for too long, or your seeds may decompose in the solution.

How does hydrogen peroxide help with germinating seeds?

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound that acts like hormones for your plants and seeds. In plants, they regulate growth and development in the roots. For seeds, H₂O₂ triggers physiological processes like germination to occur faster(1). Another way that H₂O₂ speeds up germination is by cracking the seed’s outermost covering. Because seeds need water and oxygen to kickstart germination, breaking their seed coat allows for more of it to be absorbed by the seed.

You can also use H₂O₂ to germinate old seeds that have developed a harder seed coat over time.

Besides speeding up the germination process, soaking cannabis seeds in hydrogen peroxide also sterilizes them. In fact, it’s a better solution for your seeds and far safer than aggressive chemicals like bleach(4).

However, it’s critical that you don’t soak your seeds in pure hydrogen peroxide. The concentration of the hydrogen peroxide (water to H₂O₂ ratio) can make the difference between it being beneficial or detrimental. Too much H₂O₂ will damage your plants’ cells or kill your seeds. Ideally, use a 1% H₂O₂ solution; this is enough to show the best results for cannabis seed germination (3).

Find a step by step germination guide in Robert’s Grow Bible below.

Does H₂O₂ speed up the germination process?

Yes, H2O2 does speed up the germination process. It is a signaling molecule that triggers physiological and biochemical processes in your cannabis seeds, which then induces germination. Additionally, H2O2 is regarded as one of the most stable signaling molecules for cannabis (1). Unlike other compounds, H2O2 requires a specific enzyme to decompose(5), making it ideal for creating seed-soaking solutions.

What happens if you use too much hydrogen peroxide?

When soaking seeds in water and hydrogen peroxide, it’s common to make mistakes around the concentration levels. Note that 10% hydrogen peroxide is the concentration for weed killer, and it will also kill your plants (6). The recommended solution is 1-3%. Any solution that contains more than 3% can do more harm than good for your seeds.

How long should you soak your seeds in hydrogen peroxide?

We recommend that you only soak your cannabis seeds in the hydrogen peroxide solution for no more than 12-24 hours(4)(1). This is because your seeds will usually  show signs of germination around this time frame. To keep your newly germinated seeds from drowning and decomposing, don’t go over 24 hours. This would not be the case if you were soaking your seeds in water alone.

What is the ratio of water to hydrogen peroxide to use for seeds?

One of the most important things to take into consideration when making a hydrogen peroxide solution is the concentration. H₂O₂ comes in different strengths, and each one requires different amounts of water to dilute it into a solution that’s safe for soaking weed seeds. This chart details the ratio of water to H₂O₂ needed for making a soaking solution for your seeds.

Can you germinate older seeds with H₂0₂ (hydrogen peroxide)

It is certainly possible to germinate older cannabis seeds with hydrogen peroxide. The only issue with germinating old seeds is their harder seed coat(11). You need to crack that tough seed coat to germinate them, which is possible by using H₂O₂. You won’t need to make a higher concentrated solution for it either. The same 1% H₂O₂ solution you use for regular seeds is enough to germinate older ones(3). So if you have a bunch of old seeds you didn’t find the time to sow, don’t just throw them away. They may still be viable.

But, it’s only possible to germinate old seeds if they were stored properly. Just like with storing buds, if you don’t give your seeds the right conditions, they won’t last. For more on storing your seeds, read the article, how to store cannabis seeds. Or if you don’t trust you old seeds, check out collection of high yield marijuana seeds today!

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How to use hydrogen peroxide for germinating marijuana seeds

Disinfect growing medium

Besides using hydrogen peroxide to soak your marijuana seeds, you can also use it to disinfect your growing medium by applying the diluted solution as if you’re watering. Doing so eliminates harmful fungi like fusarium from soil-growing mediums and increases seedling growth in plants(7). Applying H₂O₂ on soil has the added benefit of remedying heavy metal-contaminated soil(8).

Seed sanitization

Because of hydrogen peroxide’s oxidizing properties, it is a good disinfectant that removes bacterial and viral pathogens and stops fungal infections. It’s the best solution if you want to sterilize your seeds. Other alternatives like mercuric chloride or bleach require additional washing of your seeds(4). For this method, soak your seeds in a 1% solution and let them sit for 12-24 hours or until most seeds have germinated.

Faster germination

Like sanitization, use hydrogen peroxide for faster germination by soaking your seeds in a 1% solution for 12-24 hours. H₂O₂ can speed up the germination process in seeds because it acts as a trigger for germination, which would otherwise take twice as long if you were to soak them in water(1). In older seeds with thicker seed coats, H₂O₂ breaks open the hardened outermost cover, allowing more oxygen and water to be absorbed by the seed.

Increased cannabis seedling root development

Promoting root development is another benefit of using hydrogen peroxide on your cannabis. Watering with your H₂O₂ solution increases O₂ concentration in the soil, which increases nutrient and water uptake and has a positive effect on root growth(9)(10). 

Fight off fungus infections

In the same vein, watering your cannabis with your hydrogen peroxide solution helps fight off fungal infections in your plants, particularly in its roots which play a considerable role in increasing root development. It’s important to note that you need to be careful with how much H₂O₂ you introduce to your cannabis, which is where the chart will come in handy.

But with that said, you don’t have to trouble yourself with all of this. Unless you just want to salvage some old seeds you forgot to plant, you’re better off purchasing high-quality seeds from ILGM – they’re guaranteed to germinate. You can also check out our germination instructions for more information.

FAQs about using hydrogen peroxide with cannabis

Can you treat root rot with hydrogen peroxide hydroponics?

Yes you can. Outside of cutting off the damaged parts, you can use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water to treat root rot in your cannabis plants.

Should you dilute hydrogen peroxide solution when using it for germination?

When using hydrogen peroxide for germinating cannabis seeds, you must dilute it before you soak your seeds in it. Undiluted H₂O₂ will only damage your seeds.

Does H₂0₂ help with mold on cannabis plants?

Spraying your cannabis plants with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution can help reduce the likelihood of mold appearing. However, it’s more of a preventative than a remedy. It won’t help much if your plants are already infected with mold.

Citations

• The role of hydrogen peroxide in regulation of plant metabolism and cellular signalling in response to environmental stresses by Slesak I., Libik Marta., Karpinska B. – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17325747/
• The effects of hydrogen peroxide on plant growth, mineral accumulation, as well as biological and chemical properties of ficus deltoidea by Nurnaeimah N., Nashriyah M., Mohd K.. – https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/4/599
• Development and standardization of rapid and efficient seed germination protocol for cannabis sativa by Sorokin A., Yadav N.S., Gaudet D. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7952943/
• Transient expression of β-glucuronidase gene in cannabis sativa varieties by Sorokin A., Yadav N.S, Gaudet D. – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342259283_Transient_expression_of_the_b-glucuronidase_gene_in_Cannabis_sativa_varieties
• Antioxidant status in pesticides-exposed agricultural workers by Abdel-Shafy E.A. – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/catalase 
• Using hydrogen peroxide – https://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/gardening-with-hydrogen-peroxide.html
• Effect of hydrogen peroxide on the soil microbial community structure and growth of Malus hupehensis Rehd. Seedlings under replant conditions by Xu X., Zhou Y., Wang X. – https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.2c06665
• Study on the possibility of hydrogen peroxide pretreatment and plant system to remediate soil pollution by Lin Q., Chen Y., Wang Z. – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15519388/
• Apoplastic hydrogen peroxide in the growth zone of the maize primary root. Increased levels differentially modulate root elongation under well-watered and water-stressed conditions by Voothuluru P., Makela P., Zhu J. – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00392/full 
• Oxygen diffusion in soils: Understanding the factors and processes needed for modeling by Roman J.N, Ortiz M., Morales-Salinas L. – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280557990_Oxygen_diffusion_in_soils_Understanding_the_factors_and_processes_needed_for_modeling 
• Seed Structural Variability and Germination Capacity in passiflora edulis sims f. edulis by Castillo N.R., Melgarejo L.M., Blair M. W. – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2020.00498/

Before we get down to the brass tacks of freeze drying weed, it’s important to know that freeze-drying is not the same as putting your buds in a freezer. Freeze-drying cannabis is a more effective way of long-term storage as opposed to freezing cannabis. It ensures a longer shelf-life for your buds while also keeping them potent. The difference lies in what freeze drying avoids that freezing doesn’t.

Reasons not to freeze weed

Freezer burn

Freezer burn occurs when cold and dry air in the freezer draws out the moisture in your fresh buds and replaces it with oxygen. While this has the potential to dry your nugs, the moisture has no means to evaporate, so it remains on the surface, where it forms a layer of frost. While it won’t result in your buds becoming susceptible to mold, the freezer burn alone causes reduced potency as it exposes your buds to more oxygen.

Additionally, thawing out your buds after they’ve been frozen leaves them moist and mushy. This is the result of the water molecules in the buds contracting and expanding as it freezes, which destroys the cells’ structural integrity. If you use a normal kitchen freezer, your buds won’t be consumable anymore. And you can only convert them into extracts if you’ve made the proper preparations to catch the fallen trichomes.

Loss of trichomes

Freezing temperatures will result in the trichomes on your buds turning brittle enough to fall off if you touch them. This isn’t ideal if the buds you stored were meant to be smoked. But it can be a blessing in disguise as you can turn the kief into extracts.

Slow decarboxylation

Due to the moisture that has collected on the surface of the buds (aka water activity), it will take longer for them to decarb. While this isn’t an issue if you’re smoking them, it can prove detrimental if the buds were meant for edibles. Slower decarboxylation means it needs to stay in the oven longer, which lowers potency as the THC degrades into CBN⁽¹⁾.

What is freeze drying?

As the name suggests, freeze drying is a process that involves freezing the moisture in your buds and drying them. The drying part is achieved through a process called sublimation. Sublimation is a type of transition that turns a solid into its gas state without needing to turn it into a liquid. In our case, it’s the moisture-turned ice crystals in the buds that need to be sublimated into water vapor. And for sublimation to occur, it needs certain temperatures and pressures. This is why freeze drying weed can’t be done with your standard kitchen freezer. You need specialized equipment that has those specific functions.

It’s said that freeze drying is a high-quality dehydration method as it retains many of the flavors of foods, and for the most part, it translates well into cannabis. A little too well, in fact. Studies have shown that freeze drying doesn’t break down chlorophyll the same way standard drying methods do⁽²⁾⁽³⁾. It’s for this reason, we recommend that if you freeze dry cannabis, do so with the intention of using it for making hash.

How does freeze-drying cannabis work?

Deep freezing

There are three stages in freeze drying⁽⁴⁾. The first is deep freezing which is the stage where you bring the buds down to -40°C (-40°F) or lower. This is done to turn the moisture in your buds into ice.

Sublimation drying

The second stage of the process involves sublimating the ice into water vapor. This is done by lowering the pressure in the freeze dryer. One thing to note is that this is all done automatically.

Desorption drying

The last step, also known as the secondary or final drying, is when your freeze-dried weed is brought back to room temperature. This removes the last bit of moisture from the buds.

What are the benefits of freeze-drying marijuana?

The main benefit of freeze drying weed is that it improves certain qualities, such as flavor and shelf life.

But that’s not all. A study states that the best method for drying buds is freeze-drying. It preserves the quality and does so for longer than traditionally cured weed⁽⁴⁾.

Freeze drying as a method for curing

One of the more novel ways of curing cannabis is through a freeze dryer. Unlike traditional drying methods that implement heat, freeze drying does the opposite. It uses extremely low temperatures to dry and cure your buds. The resulting end-product has a higher quality to it and a longer shelf-life. However, freeze-drying isn’t necessary for the home grower.

It’s more of a nice-to-have sort of thing rather than a necessary piece of equipment. And while it does make for a higher quality product, at the end of the day, it’s still a matter of preference. So only invest in a freezer dryer if you’re keen to try your hand at modern, high-quality hash making.

I’m sure the term ‘fresh frozen’ somewhat rings a bell, and you may have seen it being thrown around in articles covering freeze drying. This is because fresh frozen is a term used to describe a method that growers use to preserve the quality of their buds to turn them into high-quality extracts.

Freeze drying is key to this process since the trichomes of freeze-dried cannabis fall off a lot easier, unlike traditionally dried and cured ones. This is ideal when putting it through an ice water bath to make bubble hash which can then be pressed into live rosin.

What to look for in a freeze dryer for cannabis

When looking for a cannabis freeze dryer, the main things you need to consider are price, capacity, and rating. With price, there’s the cost of the freeze dryer itself and the ongoing costs. Overall, you might be looking at an average of $2,500 to $5,000 (depending on the size and type of pump) with a $30 to $50 ongoing cost to run it. For its capacity, it should have a shelf area of 1 square meter and a condensing capacity of 30 liters. 

How do you freeze dry properly?

Freeze drying marijuana requires you to use a professional freeze-dryer. This is because, with the right appliance, you won’t really need to do much of anything as the machine does everything for you. It beats working with something potentially hazardous as dry ice, which, in poorly-ventilated areas, can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide.

When should you put weed in the freezer?

When preparing live resin

The only acceptable reason for putting your weed in the freezer is if you plan to make high-quality extracts out of it. By putting your buds in the freezer dryer, it’s left preserved and prepped until ready to be made into either solventless or solvent extracts (aka ‘Dabs’).

The solvent extraction process involves using the (fresh) frozen buds and subjecting them to a solvent such as propane or butane to extract the resin. From there, the extract is purged, leaving behind a rich concentrate of cannabinoids and terpenes. It’s important to note that, like freeze drying, this process involves specialized equipment. Moreover, the compounds involved are volatile and dangerous, which is why we advise against making resin using these gasses.

When making ice hash

Ice hash (ice-o-later) or bubble hash is a method of making a more refined form of hash. It doesn’t strictly need you to use frozen buds; if anything, you can also just use dried and cured cannabis to make it. But there’s a notable difference in flavor and fragrance if you use (freshly) frozen or freeze-dried buds because of how well they’ve preserved the terpenes in the trichomes.

As for the process of making bubble hash, you won’t need any chemicals. Instead, you prep your frozen or freeze-dried buds for an ice wash where they’ll be stirred. This part of the process will break off the trichomes from the flowers, making it much easier if frozen or freeze-dried. Once they’re broken off, the resulting kief is then dried for 2 to 10 days, wherein it will become translucent.

Conclusion

Freeze drying is a novel way to dry and preserve your buds. It has the advantage of traditional drying methods in that it preserves the flavors and potency of your herbs. Yet, it is a specialized field and might not be obtainable or even necessary for most novice growers. If you do think this is something for you and you want to try your hand at freeze-drying cannabis, you need to grow weed that’s worth freeze drying in the first place. Buy seeds at ILGM.

FAQs About Freeze Drying Weed

How long does freeze drying weed take

Most freeze dryers nowadays only take a day or so to complete the process (20 to 40 hours). The time it takes does depend on the quantity you put in as well as the amount of moisture in your buds.

Does putting weed in the freezer make it less potent

Not necessarily. The only reason people say putting weed in a freezer makes it less potent is because of how the trichomes on the flowers will break off. In reality, freezing your buds preserves their potency and flavor much better than drying and curing. But it has the downside of only making your frozen buds viable for hash making instead of smoking.

What temperature do you freeze dry weed at

-40°C (-40°F) or lower, and it’s important that it’s done immediately. By flash-freezing your buds, you prevent ice crystals from forming, which would otherwise ruin their quality. This is also the main reason why your kitchen freezer is not up to the task of preserving and curing your precious bud to perfection.

Cited Sources

• Russo E., Marcu J. Advances in Pharmacology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/cannabinol
• King V., Liu C.F., Liu Y.J. Chlorophyll stability in spinach dehydrated by freeze-drying and controlled low-temperature vacuum dehydration. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0963996900001484
• Roshanak S., Rahimmalek M., Goli S.A.H., Evaluation of seven different drying treatments in respect to total flavonoid, phenolic, vitamin C content, chlorophyll, antioxidant activity and color of green tea (Camellia sinensis or C. assamica) leaves. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711456/
• Nikas S., Wills R., Chandrapala J., Post-Harvest Operations to Generate High-Quality Medicinal Cannabis Products: A Systemic Review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8911901/