In this blog, you will learn about the difference between fem and male plants. How can you identify them and learn about their physical features?
Identify Male plant
Thick stem and fewer leaves
In general male cannabis plants tend to have a thicker stem compared to their female counterpart. They tend to grow much taller and have a higher weight, hence the reason for thicker stems.
Males have lower leaves on their bodies compared to their female counterparts.
The stem of the male plant has pollen balls.
These pollen balls tend to grow on the lower end of the stem and at certain branch joints. It is another factor by which we can identify a male plant from a female.
Male's balls at joints often get removed for better overall crop yield. If your goal is to reproduce these plants, then their pollen will be useful.
What to do when a Cannabis plant is showing both male and female features.
These are often termed hermaphroditic, which means that they exhibit both male and female features. They have both reproductive organs and are largely considered undesirable.
Ultimately, they are treated as males only because they can fertilize with themselves and ruin crops.
Identify female plant
Translucent hairs
There are small translucent hairs that crop at the joints of the stem, which can help you tell it's a female.
These hairs are known as pistils, and they tend to appear in small buds.
Another part of the plant they tend to appear in is in the new branches.
Wait for the plants to grow fully.
It takes about six weeks before both female and male plants start to show their sex organs. It is the keyway a grower identifies the difference between fem and male plants.
Why is it important to know the male from female in a crop
It is extremely important to learn about the difference between fem and male plants.
These buds are from where you get the THC which is the key source of your yield. They must stay away from males; if they get fertilized, the crop will get ruined.
It is important to check every plant with a keen eye to avoid fertilization to ensure no mail gets through.
Males tend to generally start showing their organs far more quickly than females. If you're growing indoors, it can be about a 7 to 10 days time period. When growing outside, you can be looking at a three-week difference.
Final thoughts
For any grower getting into the marijuana business for the first time.
Learning about the key difference between fem and male plants is an important part of the journey. It might seem like a simple ordeal, but a rogue male can lead to mass fertilization if not checked properly.
You can potentially lose a lot of money and time over it. This is why one has to know intimately about the fine differences between the male and female.
