How to Cure Cannabis in Jars (Burping Schedule)

3 min read

Mason jars of curing cannabis buds with a 62% humidity pack and a small hygrometer

Most beginners have never heard of curing before their first grow, and some skip straight from drying to smoking and wonder why their homegrown doesn’t taste like much. Curing is the difference between good and great — and it’s just buds, jars, and a bit of patience with the lid.

The short version:

  • Cure dried buds in mason jars, about three-quarters full, loosely packed
  • Drop a 62% humidity pack in each jar to regulate moisture
  • Burp (open) twice a day week one, once a day week two, every few days after
  • Minimum two weeks; sweet spot four to eight
  • The smell tells you where you are — grass fades, the strain’s aroma emerges

Want the full breakdown? Keep scrolling.

What does curing actually do?

After drying, there’s still moisture trapped in the densest parts of the buds even when the outside feels dry. Curing lets that internal moisture redistribute slowly in a sealed jar while the last of the chlorophyll breaks down and the terpenes — aroma and flavour — develop and stabilise. That’s why a fresh-jarred bud smells like cut grass (chlorophyll still going) and a properly cured one smells like the strain itself. Skip it and you’ve got harsh, grassy, flat smoke from flower that had the potential to be smooth and complex.

How do I set up the jars?

Use mason jars filled about three-quarters, buds sitting loosely — pack them tight and there’s no air exchange, which is asking for mould. Drop a 62% humidity pack (Boveda or Integra Boost) in each jar; these two-way packs pull moisture out if it’s too high and release it if too low, taking the guesswork out (DIG stock both). If, when you open a jar in the first day or two, the buds feel damp or stick together, they went in too early — take them out, air them a few hours, and re-jar. Any sharp, ammonia-like smell means anaerobic bacteria starting up: get them out immediately and dry them further before re-jarring. That early check saves a whole jar.

What’s the burping schedule?

It’s called burping because you’re letting the jar breathe:

  • Week 1: open twice a day for about 15 minutes — lets excess moisture out and fresh air in.
  • Week 2: once a day, 10–15 minutes — the moisture is evening out; buds should feel consistent, not crunchy-outside-spongy-inside.
  • Week 3 onward: every few days is plenty — the cure’s working, you’re just maintaining.

Minimum two weeks and you’ll notice harshness fading and aroma developing; the sweet spot is four to eight weeks, where the strain’s real complexity and smooth smoke emerge. The Jar Stuffer packs jars tight, never burps, and opens them three weeks later to white fuzz and a sour smell — a whole harvest binned for the sake of opening a lid twice a day. If you over-dried, a humidity pack brings a little moisture back over a few days; if buds are too moist in the jar, hang them another 24 hours and re-jar. The smell test is your guide: when the grass smell’s gone and you get hit with the strain’s own aroma over smooth smoke, it’s done.

FAQ

How long should I cure cannabis? At least two weeks, with four to eight weeks the sweet spot for smoothness and full flavour. Properly stored, it keeps improving slightly and holds for months.

What humidity should a curing jar be? Around 62%, which is why a 62% two-way humidity pack is the easy way to hold it. Too high risks mould; too low makes buds brittle and dulls the smell.

What does burping mean? Opening the jars for a short spell to release excess moisture and exchange the air — twice daily at first, tapering off. It prevents mould and lets the cure progress.

My jar smells like ammonia — what’s wrong? The buds were too wet and anaerobic bacteria have started. Take them out at once, dry them further, then re-jar. Don’t ignore a sharp chemical smell.

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