A customer once came back with a bag of flower bought six weeks earlier, asking if it had gone off. The flower had lost its smell and crumbled between his fingers instead of staying springy. The problem wasn't the product – it was how it had been stored: in its original zip bag, on the kitchen windowsill, in full sun. Here's what I now explain to everyone at the till.
The right container: glass, airtight, opaque
The zip bag that comes with the flower is handy for transport, not for storage. As soon as you get home, move the flower to an airtight glass jar, ideally tinted (amber or dark) rather than clear. Glass doesn't hold any odours or unwanted aromas, unlike plastic, and an airtight seal limits the air exchange that speeds up drying out.
Light is enemy number one
This is the point most people underestimate. Light, whether direct (sun) or artificial (lamps, neon), attacks cannabinoids through photochemical degradation. UV exposure can destroy up to 50% of the CBD in just 100 hours of cumulative exposure – which adds up fast when the jar sits on a shelf lit all day. Keep the jar in a closed cupboard, a drawer or anywhere out of the light.
Temperature and humidity: aim for the middle
Flower keeps best between 15 and 21°C, so avoid spots near a radiator or a sunny window in summer. For humidity, aim for 58 to 62% relative humidity inside the jar. Below that, the flower gets dry and brittle, loses its terpenes faster and crumbles at the slightest touch. Above it, the risk of mould increases. For larger quantities, a small humidity-control pack in the jar solves the problem effortlessly.
I often tell my customers: treat your flower like good coffee beans. Nobody leaves an open bag of coffee in full sun on the worktop – and it's exactly the same logic here.
What degrades first, and in what order
Degradation always follows the same sequence. First the terpenes evaporate, which is why the characteristic smell fades first, often before overall quality is really affected. Then the trichomes – the little crystals visible on the surface – get damaged and the texture turns dull and brittle. Finally, the cannabinoids themselves oxidise and lose concentration. If your flower doesn't smell of much any more, that's the first sign it's time to rethink how you store it, even if it's still usable.
How long can you keep a flower?
In good conditions, a CBD flower keeps for six to twelve months without noticeable loss of quality. Beyond that, even well stored, the cannabinoids keep slowly oxidising and the terpenes eventually run out. My practical advice: buy quantities that match how much you use rather than storing a year's supply in a big jar. Fresh flower used within two or three months of purchase always gives the best experience. For perfect storage, check out our Terpseals vacuum jars.
