“ IT ’ S WORTH GIVING DRYING
ROOMS A DEEPER LOOK because streamlining drying room operations can help secure your bottom line by protecting your harvests .”
For those lean producers out there , losing flowers post-harvest to such things as mold is simply not an option and spending excessive amounts of money on labor in drying operations can hinder profitability . With challenges of commercial production at the forefront of many operations , identifying key ways in which commercial growers face challenges with drying cannabis is top of mind . The hope being , by illuminating these trials we can work towards more efficient methods for processing our prized harvests .
AVAILABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE
Looking at the industry as a whole , it becomes apparent that available space is the most common theme plaguing drying-room operations . Importantly , this critical lack of space is largely responsible for other challenges seen in the drying room , especially those related to uneven drying and mold . Yet , as indoor producers already face astronomical overhead costs with licensing , construction , labor , and operations , the idea of spending more on dedicated drying space presents a real dilemma . According to George Johnson , the marketing director from Lift and Grow , “ it ’ s very clear that drying rooms are too small for most operators . Even more , because they are experiencing larger yields , this fact only exacerbates the problem .” As Johnson points out , advances in both cultivation technology and method have curiously led to a scenario where harvests are getting too large to be properly dried in previously dedicated spaces . As leaders in automated drying rack technology , Johnson and the team at Lift and Grow are experts in the field of drying cannabis . He continues , “ we are seeing that people have dedicated drying space , however , it ’ s usually less than 500 square feet .” Needless to say , this lack of dedicated square footage simply isn ’ t enough to provide ideal environmental conditions for drying flowers . As part of the industry trend towards efficiency in production , people must assess their bottom lines regarding drying-room design . Most likely , you will find that spending money on facilities up front will help protect your harvest for years to come . Whether these expenditures come with new construction buildouts , or the implementation of technology as offered from companies like Lift and Grow , they will likely prove worthwhile in the long run .
ENVIRONMENT
Another challenge faced by commercial producers regarding drying rooms has to do with environmental controls . To illustrate , Johnson says “ most growers use commercial dehumidification systems to keep humidity at 50-60 percent while drying in a dark room .” Also , it is very important to keep temperatures under 80˚F and space drying branches far enough apart to ensure ample airflow . A major consideration to make regarding environmental controls in your drying room is the curing process . For example , uneven airflow in your drying room can lead directly to uneven drying in your flowers . When this imbalance occurs , and too many wet flowers make it into a bag or jar for curing , it can ruin the smell , or “ nose ,” of your cannabis . Unfortunately , when this occurs , your flowers will take on a “ hay ” smell that renders them near worthless on the open market .
photos courtesy of Lift and Grow
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