How to tell the sex of a cannabis plant?
Are you interested in growing your Cannabis plants at home? This article will help you determine the differences between a male and female cannabis plant to reproduce them correctly.
To tell the sex of a cannabis plant easily, look at the tiny and bell-shaped flowers of the male plant that opens to release fertilizing pollens. On the other hand, the female plant has a teardrop-shaped flower that shows buds during harvesting time.
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How to tell if your plant is male or female before flowering?
Males and females produce flowers in the junctions between stems. Pre-flowers appear at the crook between the central plant stalk and a fan leaf stem. Usually, males develop earlier than females. To identify it correctly, look for the pre-flowers at the branch junction. You can see it better if you use a magnifying tool like a jewelry loupe. All you have to do is to find the stipule. Check the sex parts behind the stipule. Stipule is a leafy pointed flap that you can see at the junction. You have to examine the nodes of the cannabis plant. If it is a male, you can see the early growth of tiny sacs. If it is a female, you can see two bracts.
What are the early signs of a male plant?
Knowing the early signs of the sex of a plant is essential to start its reproduction. The sex of the male plants appears 1-2 weeks earlier than female plants. The male cannabis plant is like a round version of the female plant. It looks like a spade shape with a bulbous bottom and slight tip. Male plants produce pollen sacs, which look similar to the tiny buds that appear on female plants. They are usually thicker, taller, and sturdier. The male plants have few leaves which are short and bushy. As it grows, you can identify the pre-flower, which is called staminate. Staminate looks like a ball at the end of a stick. You can also see a long space between branches, which is called the greater inter-nodal spacing.
What are the early signs of a female?
During the early phase of female plant development, you can see its stigma, which has the appearance of fine and white hairs. Stigma protrudes from the tear-drop-shaped buds. They are part of the female reproductive organs, which are at the nodes. However, some female plants don’t have a pair of pistil or white hair-like protrusions at the end of the calyx. Unlike the male plant, the female cannabis plants look like a tear-drop shape. It is more ovate and pear-like but with a long slender pointed tip called the calyx. Lastly, they are more compact and bushy.
Can a female plant turn male?
No, but they can become hermaphrodites. It happens when female plants undergo environmental stress. That means both female and male reproductive parts are developed.
You can also try to trick a female into believing that it is a male plant by applying gibberellins, which are male marijuana plant hormones. If you apply gibberellins, there is a chance that the female plants will display male-like characteristics.
What are hermaphrodites or hermies?
Hermaphrodites plants developed both male and female sex organs. Hermaphroditism can have two causes: genetic and environmental. The genetic origins of the plant play a significant role in true hermaphrodites. Some cannabis plant strains are more prone to hermaphroditism. An example of a true hermaphrodite is Thai Sativa. On the other hand, environmental factors such as stress can also be a factor. Some stressful conditions are photoperiod changes, nutrient deficiencies, late harvests, overfertilization, and plant disease.
Can you turn a male plant female?
No, you can’t turn a male plant into a female cannabis plant. Its genetics determines the sex of a plant before germination. Also, it is difficult to determine if it is a male or a hermaphrodite. That’s why it’s more likely impossible to decide if it’s an actual male plant from the rest. However, there are some tactics that you can use to make it show female characteristics.
How to "Turn" a male plant female?
As explained in the paragraph above, you can’t turn a male plant into a female. But, there are methods to make a make plant show different female characteristics. Take note that using chemicals for these methods can be harmful to both pets and people. First, grow a marijuana plant until it shows the male-like pollen sacs. You will need a bottle of ethylene, which is a female marijuana plant hormone. Then, prepare a pair of gloves and face mask as personal protective equipment. You have to sprinkle some ethylene overtop of the plant’s branches. Put more drops on the leaves and stem joints. Set a lighting system to 12 hours of light per day, and wait for the results. Increased levels of female hormones in male cannabis plants are a factor in triggering female flowering development. It is more effective if you apply ethylene when the mature flowers are still not formed. Take note that you have to distinguish if the plant is a true male to make it more effective.
How soon can you tell the sex of a cannabis plant?
Pre-flowers start to grow four weeks into growth. By the sixth week, you can now determine the sex of the plant. The pre-flowers begin to show their gender, so you can now tell the sex. Cannabis plants develop into full flowers at 8 to 10 weeks. At this time, you can quickly determine the differences between male and female plants.
How to know if a female cannabis plant was pollinated?
You can determine if a female plant underwent pollination by observing the bracts. Bracts are small, leaf-like structures that protect the reproductive parts. You can assess if the bracts became larger. Also, monitor the areas where the flowering buds appear. You can use tweezers to open the bract. If you see a seed, it already underwent pollination. Lastly, check the color of the pistil hairs. It will fade and become darker.