Emergency Drying Tips for Wet Weather Harvests in Maine
If you’ve been growing cannabis in Maine long enough, you know that late-season rain is more reliable than the weather forecast. You wait patiently all summer, watching your buds swell, only to have back-to-back storms roll in right when it’s time to harvest. Sound familiar?
Don’t panic. Even in the face of heavy humidity, there are ways to protect your crop and ensure a clean, potent finish. Here’s your guide to emergency drying techniques specifically designed for wet weather harvests in Maine.
Why Wet Weather Is a Big Problem at Harvest Time
Moisture is the enemy during harvest. Wet buds or even high ambient humidity can:
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Lead to bud rot (Botrytis cinerea), which spreads fast and ruins entire colas
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Cause mold spores to grow during drying and curing
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Destroy terpene profiles, reducing flavor and aroma
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Make trimming a nightmare due to sticky, wet plant matter
In a state like Maine—especially along the coast, where fall rain and sea fog can linger—you need a game plan that’s fast, efficient, and mold-preventive.
Step 1: Harvest Fast and Smart
When a multi-day storm is coming and your buds are ripe or nearly ripe, don’t wait for the perfect trichome color—you’re playing defense now.
Emergency Harvest Tips:
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Harvest before the rain, even if it’s a few days early. Slightly underripe is better than moldy.
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Strip fan leaves in the field to reduce moisture volume when you bring plants inside.
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Inspect for rot—any brown, mushy spots mean bud rot. Cut it out immediately, and sterilize your scissors with isopropyl between snips.
Step 2: Shake, Pat, Hang
Dry Off Excess Water
If your plants got hit by a rainstorm:
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Shake off excess moisture (gently). Think like you’re shaking rain off a jacket.
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Pat down colas with paper towels or clean microfiber cloths if they’re soaked.
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Don’t use fans at this point—drying happens later in a controlled space.
Step 3: Set Up a Makeshift Drying Room
In a perfect world, you have a climate-controlled drying tent. In an emergency? Use what you’ve got.
Key Goals:
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Humidity: 45–55% RH
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Temperature: 60–68°F
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Airflow: Gentle, consistent, indirect
Quick DIY Dry Room Options:
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Garage or basement with a dehumidifier and oscillating fan
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Closet with a cracked door, mini dehumidifier, and clip fan
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Camping tent indoors with vented flaps and a fan outside
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Large cardboard boxes with holes and a small USB fan + desiccant packs
If you’re using a tent or room, hang branches loosely spaced apart. Avoid bunching. Air needs to move between them to prevent rot.
Step 4: Use the “Paper Bag Method” for Rescue Drying
If your buds are already borderline soggy, and you don’t have a dry room set up in time:
Emergency Paper Bag Drying:
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Trim buds off the branch
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Spread them loosely in brown paper lunch bags—no stacking!
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Close loosely or roll the tops open for airflow
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Shake or fluff contents daily to prevent moisture buildup
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Monitor RH with a hygrometer if possible
This method slows drying without trapping moisture, and works especially well in high-humidity environments like Maine's coastal zones.
Step 5: Dehumidifier + Fan Combo (But Be Careful)
If you have no drying tent and need to improvise in a room or garage, try this:
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Place buds on drying racks (screen shelves or mesh baskets)
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Run a small dehumidifier nearby
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Add a fan pointed at a wall, not directly at the buds
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Open windows occasionally to refresh the air (if humidity allows)
Keep an eye on RH—too low and you’ll overdry, too high and mold creeps in. Aim for a 6–10 day dry even in emergency conditions.
Bonus: Use Desiccants or Rice as Backup
If all else fails, and you’re working in a closet or box:
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Place desiccant packs (or uncooked rice in open containers) inside the drying space
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These will absorb excess moisture
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Replace rice every 24–48 hours if it clumps
It’s not ideal, but in an emergency it’s better than mold.
Signs of Trouble: What to Watch For
Even with the best effort, wet weather drying is risky. Keep your eyes (and nose) open for:
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White fuzz or spiderweb-like mold on buds = cut and discard
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Ammonia smell = too wet and not enough airflow
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Crispy outside, wet inside = drying too fast, dial it down
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Sticky or soft for too long = check humidity and spacing
The Maine Mindset: Be Ready Every Fall
In Maine, late September to early October often brings cold nights and damp air—especially near the coast or in low-lying inland areas. That means having your dry space set up before harvest season is non-negotiable.
Prepping early gives you the chance to:
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Test your gear (dehumidifiers, fans, hygrometers)
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Dry-run your setup
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Avoid last-minute scrambles when the clouds roll in
Wet Weather Doesn’t Mean Wasted Bud
A rainy harvest isn’t ideal—but with quick action, smart drying techniques, and an eye on moisture control, you can rescue your crop and still enjoy potent, flavorful flower.
Just remember: harvest smart, dry slow, and don’t fear the fog. After all, this is Maine—we’ve got lobsters, lighthouses, and stubborn growers who don’t give up on their plants.
We're just a bunch of cannabis nerds helping fellow homegrowers make the most out of every plant—rain or shine. Check out our website for more Maine specific cannabis growing tips.
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