The cannabis it is a dioecious plant, meaning it boasts both specimens male that female, and learning to recognize its sex is very important for our cultivation.
In this guide we will see all the differences and how to learn to distinguish them quickly and easily, before it's too late. (You will understand why shortly). Let's go.
Male cannabis and female cannabis: the differences
In the initial life phase: germination and in the vegetative phase, male and female cannabis specimens appear identical. It's just in the flowering that plants reveal their sex.
In fact, if female cannabis plants produce our beloved ones tops rich in trichomes, cannabinoids and terpenes, male plants do not produce flowers. But some pollen sacs loaded with pollen.
Pollen essential for fertilize the female flowers and produce seeds. In fact, male plants are necessary for breeding operations aimed at creating new varieties.
Why is it (so) important to recognize the gender of cannabis?
Given the main differences between male and female cannabis, we also understand why identify its sex (as soon as possible) is so important.
As anticipated, only female plants can produce those large flowers that we desire so much. E prevent that they are fertilized by male pollen is very important to preserve their quality.
In fact, also known as sinsemilla, seedless cannabis flowers have a distinct quality superior compared to the fertilized ones, which will produce seeds in the middle of the tops. But how to solve this problem?
If we are not breeders and grow exclusively to self-produce our inflorescences, we must prefer gods feminized cannabis seeds, which al 99% they will give life to female plants.
| For further information: "Regular, feminized and autoflowering cannabis seeds: the differences"
How to tell if a cannabis plant is male or female
If we have purchased regular seeds, which can give both male and female plants 50/50, quickly determining the sex is essential to avoid accidental pollination, which, as just seen, will ruin the quality of the buds.
The sex of a seedling begins to be glimpsed with flowering, but the time plays a crucial role. In fact, the goal is to find the males and remove them from the cultivation as soon as possible.
Until 6 weeks. This is the time needed before at the height of the nodes (the point where the branches and main stem meet) are born i pre-flowers: the first stage of development of the buds and pollen sacs.
The pre-flowers of male cannabis
At the beginning of flowering, equipped with magnifying glass, let's take a walk around our grow room or garden and carefully examine the nodes, where the first pre-flowers are appearing.
In male cannabis plants these small structures resemble “balls”, or eggs, green in colour. Note what these pockets are smooth and have no fluff, nor any other characteristic features.
Male pre-flowers which, compared to the female ones, have a much more shape spherical. They boast a rounded sac attached to a small piece of tissue that protrudes from the plant. And these two structures together are called “ball and stick”.
As flowering progresses, the pollen sacs will begin to develop increasingly larger clusters, easily visible even to the naked eye. But be careful. These sacs disperse the pollen contained around 2-3 weeks later their complete training. Therefore, unless we wish to perform crosses, we remove the male specimens from the growing environment as soon as possible.
The pre-flowers of female cannabis
Like the male ones, the female pre-flowers also protrude from the nodes. The main difference that characterizes these structures is the fluff. In fact, the female pre-flowers are made up of drop-shaped calyxes, with thin filaments coming out of the tip.
Filaments also known as pistils: the sexual organs of female cannabis flowers. Pistils which, as they extend, have the task of capturing male pollen and giving rise to fertilization.
In a few weeks, these neo pre-flowers transform into dense and compact buds, loaded with cannabinoids, terpenes and trichomes.
| For further information: "The importance of trichomes, everything you need to know"
Hermaphroditic cannabis: what it is and why it develops
Hermaphroditic cannabis develops both male and female sexual organs, both pollen sacs and flowers.
Caused by genetic or environmental factors, this cunning survival mechanism allows him of self-pollinate and reproduce independently.
However, as with male plants, whoever wants collecting quality buds will try to avoid such a situation. Because even hermaphroditic cannabis can disperse pollen that fertilizes the female specimens.
Types of hermaphroditic cannabis: what they are and how to recognize them
True hermaphrodites and "bananas": there are two types of hermaphroditic cannabis.
The first presents male and female flowers in a similar manner distinct. In fact, on some nodes we can see male flowers and on others female flowers. When the pollen sacs rupture, the pollen will move into the pistils and the plant will reproduce on its own. Starting to give birth to the seeds of the next generation.
Named because of their physical characteristics, "banana" hermaphrodites develop only one stamen without sepals, with the male flowers inside the female flower. This protuberance spreads pollen directly onto the buds, to ensure self-reproduction.
Cannabis seeds: is it possible to know the sex?
It would be nice, but unfortunately not. It's not possible knowing the sex of a cannabis seed. And anyone who says otherwise is lying through their teeth. Because seeds are not plants. They have no pre-flowers, leaves or branches to examine, which give us clues about the sex of the future plant.
The only way to know the sex of the seeds is to check their DNA in the laboratory. But it's not worth it, especially if we grow only to self-produce flowers for our personal consumption.
So we should germinate our seeds and wait for them to develop the first pre-flowers. Or buy directly from feminized seeds that they give us female plants directly.
| Read also: "How to germinate cannabis seeds, complete guide"
