What is a Flower/Dry Herb Vaporizer and How To Use One?

If you're a vaporizer enthusiast, step up your game by trying a flower / dry herb vaporizer. This type of vaporizer makes it easy to customize your experience and try all sorts of unique materials. Learning how to use a dry herb vaporizer is surprisingly easy. Our guide will give you all the info you need to get started.

What is a flower / dry herb vaporizer?

As the name implies, a flower / dry herb vaporizer is a type of vaporizer that works with dried, ground herbs. These electronic devices are usually compact enough to fit in a pocket. When you add the dried herbs to the vaporizer, a heating element turns cannabis compounds into a breathable vapor.

How do flower / dry herb vaporizers work?

Now that you know the basics of "what is a flower / dry herb vaporizer," let's explore a bit more about the science behind these neat little devices. The heart of a dry herb vaporizer is its battery. This provides power to run a heating element.

Depending on the type of vaporizer you use, the heating element will use either convection or conduction. Convection heating directly heats a tray that your material sits on while conduction heating sends a flow of hot air over the material. Once the device heats your dry herb to a certain point, it vaporizes into a breathable mist.

Different types of flower / dry herb vaporizers

Before you can actually learn how to use a dry herb vaporizer, you'll need to select one. There are a few different types to pick from, and they all have their own unique perks.

Vaporizer pen

The vaporizer pen is the most compact option. These are usually around an inch wide and a couple of inches long. Some may have a single button or even just turn on automatically when you inhale, so they are simple to use. However, they don't hold a lot of dry herbs, and they don't allow as many options for customizing your temperature or other settings.

Portable vaporizers

These vaporizers tend to be the best of both worlds. They have more customization options than a standard vaporizer pen and hold quite a bit of material. However, they are still petite enough to carry around in a pocket or a purse. If you get an option like the PAX Devices, you'll also find that you can use concentrates or other options beyond standard dry herbs.

Desktop vaporizers

When you want ultimate power and functionality, a desktop vaporizer can be a great option. They are often plug-in models, so you don't have to remember to charge a battery. Their extra-large chambers hold plenty of material, which is nice for lengthy sessions.

How to use a flower / dry herb vaporizer

Once you've got your favorite herb and your vaporizer, it's time to give it a try. Follow these steps to get an enjoyable experience.

Learn about your model

If you don't know much about your model yet, check out the user guide that comes with it. This will tell you things like how to open the oven and where to locate the power button. You should also take this time to gather any accessories you need, like a cleaning kit or PAX 3's oven lid to conserve cannabis material.

Choose your herbal strain

You can use all sorts of herbs with a dry herb vaporizer, but the most common option is cannabis. Different cannabis strains that all have their own unique tastes, smells, and effects. To get the most enjoyable experience, you might want to do a little research and pick out a strain that sounds appealing to you. Once you have your strain, check out the producer's temperature recommendations. Some terpenes and cannabinoids vaporize at different temperatures, so your vaporizer settings will vary depending on the strain you have.

Prepare your herb and load your chamber

Typically, users start with cannabis flower. To get the best effect from a flower, you need to first grind it. Pick a fine grind setting so air can flow over it easily. Next, open your vaporizer's oven or chamber. Carefully transfer the herb to the oven. Most dry herb vaporizers require you to pack the herb in densely, but not so tight air can't move through it. Double-check your vaporizer's instructions, though, just to see what it recommends.

Pick your temperature and heat your vaporizer

Now it's time to turn on the pen and pick out a temperature. You may want to play around with settings a little bit and see which ones work best for your particular strain. After picking the temperature, preheat the vaporizer.

Draw on the mouthpiece to inhale the vapor

After your vaporizer tells you it's ready to go, it's time to draw on the mouthpiece. If you have an option like the PAX devices, the vaporizer will use its lip-sensing technology to automatically run when you put your lips on the mouthpiece. While you inhale, try to take things slow and breathe at a gentle rate.

Clean your vaporizer and leave it ready for the next time

This final step is technically optional, but we find it's really helpful. Cleaning your vaporizer right after each use will ensure it continues to function properly. After cleaning the vaporizer, store all the components in an easy-to-reach spot and recharge your vaporizer. This ensures it's ready to go the next time you want to use it.

As you can probably see, the basics of how to use a dry herb vaporizer are pretty easy to pick up. Once you're comfortable with a standard experience, try experimenting. There are many vaporizer settings and herbs to try, so you can customize the experience to suit your unique preferences.