How To Tell When Your Cannabis Is Done In Your Dry Herb Vaporizer?

Dry herb vaporizing can seem quite tricky if you are new to this vaping style. One of the biggest areas of uncertainty is how to know when your dry herbs are finished and your vaping session is over. It can be hard for new dry herb vapers to determine whether their herbs still have any CBD or THC left, but if you keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs, you can become a pro at dry herb vaping in no time!

When Should I Stop Vaping My Dry Herbs?

Once your hits become harsher, and you start coughing more, it is a sign that you have gotten nearly all the use out of your dry herbs. You may also notice that it is starting to smell a little off, like burnt popcorn. This means that it is probably time to clean the bowl and add some fresh flowers to your dry herb vape.

Small Vapour Clouds Are Usually Normal 

Since vaping with a dry herb vaporizer is a very clean process, the vapour produced by your portable device may not always be visible. If you are not seeing big vapour clouds, it does not necessarily mean that your herb is done. You may still be able to get a bunch of active ingredients out of your session.

If your vaporizer is set to a high temperature, you may not see any vapour clouds at all. This is especially true for portable dry herb vapes; tabletop devices still tend to produce bigger and denser clouds at higher temperatures.

Pay Attention To The Flavour

One of the best ways to tell whether or not your dry herbs are finished, is by analysing its taste. Each strain of cannabis contains its own selection of natural terpenes. Since they are responsible for giving cannabis its smell and flavour, you can tell whether your session is over by the taste of your hits.

The taste of your herb will change during the course of your session. With portable devices, your first hit will usually feel quite weak as the device still needs to heat up properly. However, the first few hits usually produce the fullest flavour profile of your herbs. 

As your session progresses, your device will gradually vaporize all the terpenes and cannabinoids. Once you notice a lack of flavour, it is an indication that the strongest hits are done, and you are close to the end of your bowl. 

Check The Colour Of Your Herbs

Check your herbs to see how toasted they are looking. Be sure to turn your dry herb device off first and wait a few minutes before touching any of the heated parts.

If your vaped bud is brown, crumbly, and brittle, it is no longer suitable for vaping. If there are still some areas that are green without any black bits, you can still get some use out of your flower. You can also scoop it around with a tool to expose different surface areas to heat and get some more use out of the flower.

How Do I Know When To Stop Vaping My Dry Herbs?

Deciding when your vape is done ultimately comes down to personal preference. A bowl usually lasts between five and fifteen minutes, but this greatly depends on your temperature setting, your device, your flavour preferences, and the size of your chamber. 

You may be able to squeeze a few more hits out of brownish herbs by setting your vape to its highest temperature, but the flavour may be very unpleasant at this point. Therefore, you will be the best to judge when your herbs are no longer good to vape with.

Finding Your Sweet Spot

Whether you are new to dry herb vaping or are using a new dry herb vaporizer, it is a good idea to play around with different temperature settings when using the device. Start off with a low temperature setting to get some clean and flavourful hits. Gradually turn up the heat as your session progresses to determine which setting produces the best flavour. 

As you turn up the temperature, you will probably start noticing more vapour when you breathe out. If you do not mind the taste changing, you can get a few more hits out of the last bit of your herbs, but you will notice a decrease in the quality of your hits. Although vaping dry herbs is less harsh than smoking them, higher temperature settings will be less easy on your throat and lungs than lower settings. Once it starts tasting burnt, you know it is time to load some new herbs.

Most dry herb vapers prefer a temperature setting between 160 °C and 220 °C. Lower settings produce hardly any vapour at all, while higher temperatures can produce a harsh hit and fry your herbs faster. In summary, here are the best temperature settings for your dry herb vape, depending on how you want your experience to go:

Lightly Toasted – 163 °C to 177 °C

This is the best temperature range for experiencing:

• Mild euphoria and calmness
• Intense flavour profiles of different terpenes
• Cooler vapour with a smoother throat hit
• Decreased side effects of cannabis (dry mouth, red eyes, lethargy)

Most new users should start at this temperature range to get used to the feel of dry herb vapes. Flavour chasers will also find the best benefits from their cannabis at these temperatures. It is also a good way to enjoy the calmness of vaping cannabis while still having enough energy to get chores done or chill.

Half-Baked – 177 °C to 204 °C

This is the best temperature range for experiencing:

• Relaxation, euphoria, and a meditative state
• Flavourful and rich cannabinoids and terpenes
• Warmer vapour, which is usually more satisfactory for regular smokers
• Minor side effects of cannabis
• Increased availability of cannabinoids

Fully Baked – 204 °C to 221 °C

This is the best temperature range for experiencing:

• Intense effects of cannabis, strong euphoria, and a couch-lock
• Maximum THC volatilization
• Hotter vapour that may cause coughing
• Fewer terpenes and flavour, but a higher cannabinoid extraction
• The munchies
• The closest thing possible to smoking or combustion

Saving Your Already Vaped Bud (AVB)

It is a good idea to avoid over-toasting your herbs, as you will only experience a bad taste. If you do not over-toast your herbs, you can use your Already Vaped Buds (AVBs) in a variety of ways. This includes making edibles, DIY oil capsules, or smoking it.

If getting AVB is your priority, you should stop vaping before your herb turns dark brown or black. At this point, your AVB will not be tasty or useful at all. Stick to lower temperature settings and check in on your herbs to make sure that they are still useful as AVBs. Be sure to store your AVB in an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry place to preserve its terpenes and cannabinoids.

General Tips For Keeping Your Vape Sessions Efficient

Generally, you will have to figure out how your device works and determine the best way to enjoy your dry herbs. Here are some general tips to follow when using a dry herb vape:

• Clean your device properly – Vaporizing dry herbs will normally leave some sticky residue in your bowl, tank, or container. If you do not clean your tank out properly, you will decrease the surface area for your new dry herbs to vaporize and add a nasty burnt taste from the get go. Cleaning your device will also keep the hits lighter on your lungs, which is especially important for medicinal cannabis users.

• Grind your herbs nice and fine – Make sure that your herbs are properly ground before loading your vape. If it still has a chunky or rougher texture, your herbs will burn less evenly, and you will keep experiencing varied hits.

• Do not over-pack your device – Make sure that your herbs are not too tightly packed into your chamber. If you pack your herbs in too tightly, you might block the airflow of your device and miss out on smooth draws. A blocked device airflow system can result in heat pockets, scorched herbs, and a damaged device.

How To Clean Out Your Chamber

Cleaning your vape right after you have vaped is the best way to get rid of the residual plant material. Be careful when handling the heated elements of the device, use a tool to scrape out your chamber while everything is still hot. You can also use a dampened cotton swab to clean the sides of your chamber properly.

Dry herb vaping is a fun and easy way to enjoy your favourite flowers. Although the process takes a bit of time to get used to, the reward is a safer, more efficient, and easier method to enjoy dry herbs. Be sure to get used to your device, do not overload your chamber, and keep your device clean to get the most out of your dry herbs.