In this guide, we will explain how to recognize male and female specimens of marijuana plants and detect hermaphroditism. Cannabis is a dioecious plant species that includes both male and female individuals. The term dioecious refers to the sexual reproduction of cannabis. The term indicates that the reproductive organs of male and female marijuana plants are found on two different specimens of the same species. Male and female cannabis specimens do not show major morphological differences until they reach sexual maturity, when the mutual reproductive structures appear on them. Before this time, it is impossible to determine the sex of marijuana seeds. For female cannabis to produce seeds, it is essential that a male hemp is present, capable of producing pollen. This mechanism is the basis of cannabis reproduction.
In this species of plant, the phenomenon of hermaphroditism occurs rarely, i.e. on the same specimen we will find male and female hemp flowers. In conclusion, if we cultivate marijuana, we will find the following three sexual states:
- Male marijuana plants
- Female marijuana plants
- Hermaphroditic marijuana plant (rare phenomenon)
How to identify male cannabis plants
The formed flower of the male cannabis plant is its reproductive organ. When it reaches maturity, it hatches and releases the pollen it contains. This pollen, if it comes in contact with a female marijuana plant, will pollinate the female flower by fertilizing its reproductive glands. Knowing how to recognize and remove male cannabis at the right time is an essential practice for anyone growing regular cannabis seeds. Regular seeds produce specimen plants of both sexes. To avoid pollinating female marijuana plants, they should be separated when they reach sexual maturity.
Instead, breeders and geneticists use this type of seed to create and maintain mother plants or to cross selected genetics, encouraging pollination between different species to improve them or create new ones.
Here is a short list of some seed banks that produce regular seeds :
- Purple City Genetics
- Aficionado French Connection
- Old School Genetics
How to recognize the flower of the male marijuana plant?
The male specimens of cannabis form small bells, initially closed on themselves. After a few days, the small bud opens and releases pollen. If you want to avoid the pollination of the female maria plant, you must uproot and eliminate all the male specimens; this practice is known in the jargon as "unmasking". This is known in the trade as "unmasking" and therefore anyone growing male or female marijuana specimens will have to be very careful when they reach sexual maturity and abruptly remove all the males.
Although very rare on the market, there are male autoflowering marijuana strains, such as Sensi Seeds' Ruderalis indica Regular, that produce both males and females. In fact, major seed companies almost always only produce feminized autoflowering strains.
Uses and benefits of the male hemp plant:
Generally, growers dread having a male around, but males are not always eradicated by growers. In fact, these specimens are well maintained and guarded by all breeders and seed producers, who use them to pollinate their female plants.
How to recognize female marijuana plants
The reproductive system of the female marijuana plant is morphologically different from that of the male, forming fragrant, compact and resin-covered inflorescences. This phenomenon begins when small white filaments called pistils start to emerge from the internodes of female cannabis specimens.
How to differentiate the female plant from the male?
The formation of the flowers of the female marijuana plants begins with the emergence of the first pistils and the stop of the development of the leaves and the structure of the plant. Gradual progression to full flower formation and maturation. You will also notice that female plants will have a different structure than the males. Male marijuana plants have a thinner, less dense structure than female plants, which have closer internodes and a squarer, thicker shape.
Hermaphroditism: avoid stressing female cannabis plants
Female cannabis plants can become hermaphroditic if they are subjected to any kind of stress. This phenomenon is very risky because it usually occurs when flowering has started, pollinating your flowers and ruining your harvest. If this phenomenon occurs, the only way to reduce the damage is to manually remove all male bell-shaped flowers before they hatch and release their pollen. Careful inspection of all parts of the plant will be necessary, as the male cannabis flower often hides near the inflorescence.
What are the most common stressors that can cause a female marijuana plant to become hermaphroditic?
- Photoperiod oscillations
- Excessive fertilization
- Poorly organized lighting with low and high temperatures
- Light sources turned on during dark hours
- Poor irrigation
Hermaphroditism can also be caused by poor and inaccurate stability of the genetics itself. This often occurs when seed producers over-use their breeding specimens for long periods of time. In addition, a strange but ingenious phenomenon occurs in large crops with many female hemp plants. Under these conditions, some of the field crop specimens may become hermaphroditic by necessity. Realizing that there is no male marijuana plant nearby and fearing for the outcome of their reproduction, the females develop hermaphroditism. By doing so, they ensure the production of pollen that will pollinate them and produce seeds that will contribute to the perpetuation of the species.
Many people ask us what to do with seeds produced from a feminized cannabis plant that becomes hermaphroditic. Seeds produced from hermaphroditic hemp are still feminized seeds, so they will produce female plants, but with a higher probability of the above phenomenon occurring again.
Conclusions on how to recognize male and female plants It can be difficult to recognize a male plant from a female plant, as today's growers are not familiar with male cannabis plants, as almost all growers use feminized seeds or cuttings from female specimens.
Can male marijuana be smoked? Less experienced growers often ask: Is male or female smokeable? The answer is that only the female cannabis plant develops flowers with THC, while the males are devoid of inflorescence and active ingredients. To conclude, we remind you, as mentioned above, that to recognize a female specimen from a male one, you will have to wait until the plant reaches its sexual maturity and that this one cannot be determined in advance.
We hope that reading this guide written by your Ethnic team will provide everyone with the useful elements to recognize the differences between male and female marijuana plants and to identify hermaphroditic cannabis plants.
