The difference between male and female weed plants

Marijuana plants have evolved greatly thanks to humans, who have brought together different species from the farthest points of the planet. Each variety has its own characteristics such as its structure, type of buds, flavor, or effects as when different species are crossed, they acquire properties from both, resulting in completely different new plants. In this article, we will focus on the difference between male and female weed plants.

Thanks to the appearance of feminized seeds, there is a 99% guarantee that the plant will be female. However, this is not the case with regular seeds where you need to learn to differentiate them since only females produce buds. On the other hand, the role of male plants is to pollinate the females to obtain seeds. That’s why, it is advisable to keep them away from the females to avoid ruining the harvest.

How to distinguish between male and female weed plants?

Distinguishing between male and female weed plants can be complicated. Therefore, it is very important to learn how to differentiate between them:

Male marijuana plant

Males release the necessary pollen for the plant to reproduce, so it will be needed if the goal is to obtain seeds. If the goal is to maximize bud yield, it is recommended to avoid this type of plant. However, it depends on the grower and their goal whether to get rid of these plants or not.

The sex will not be recognizable until it starts flowering, as this is when the plant reaches its sexual maturity. During this period of no more than 3 weeks, male marijuana plants will develop small “balls” that function as pollen sacs.

If you want to avoid pollination, it is recommended to transplant to another pot or another cultivation area as soon as they are identified. To recognize them, you should note the banana cluster shape they have, without hairs (pistils).

Female marijuana plant

On the other hand, female plants are the most sought after by cannabis producers. The reason is that they are responsible for producing buds, tha part with the highest concentration of THC. 

If a male and female marijuana plant are in the same growing area, even a tiny speck of pollen can generate seeds, rendering them unusable.

To differentiate females, you need to observe their flower, which is not closed but much more open with protruding hairs (pistils). It will be very easy to recognize them because the first thing to grow will be the hairs. They are thin and long, unlike the male fruit which is rounder and smaller.

Hermaphrodite marijuana plant

Hermaphrodites are a type of plant that contain both male and female marijuana flowers. This means they produce buds but can also pollinate the rest of the plants. Both male and female plants can naturally become hermaphrodites or turn due to stress. Similarly, certain genetics like Thai strains are more prone to becoming hermaphrodites than others, but any variety could end up converting.

There are many factors that can cause stress in the plant and lead to hermaphroditism, such as:

• Introduction of light during the nighttime period.
• Excessive or insufficient watering and nutrients.
• Pests and diseases.
• Watering the plants with water that is too cold.
• Transplanting the plant. 

This type of plant is not ideal for cultivation, although they generate buds like the rest of the plants. However, there is a risk of filling the plantation with seeds. For this reason, it is recommended to remove them. 

Although all of this may seem complicated, it is not difficult to recognize male and female marijuana. Planting feminized or regular marijuana seeds has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, with feminized seeds, you get much more production because it ensures that all the seeds planted will be female.

However, it should be remembered that feminized seeds have not gone through a 100% natural process. Indeed, they have been forced to become female, which may affect their quality. For this reason, many growers have decided not to switch to feminized seeds. They to prefer obtain a slightly lower yield but to bring out all the flavor and potential of the plant. Choosing between male and female marijuana plants will depend on each grower’s cultivation needs and preferences.