How to Tell a Male from Female Pot Plant

Pot plants are cultivated for their buds or flowers, which have psychoactive properties that bring about euphoria and relaxation. However, growers need to differentiate between male and female plants to get the highest yield of potent buds. Here is how to tell them apart:

Male Cannabis Plants

Male cannabis plants have sac-like flowers known as ‘pollen sacs’ or ‘balls.' The pollen sacs are located in the axis between the stem and the branches. Male plants start producing flowers earlier than females and complete their flowering process before females. Their pollen sacs look like bulbous sacs that hang down on short stems. Male plants generally have thicker stems and fewer leaves than females. They also tend to have a paler green color and fewer branches. Another notable thing about male cannabis plants is that they do not produce any resinous buds.

Female Cannabis Plants

Female cannabis plants produce the buds that are harvested for medicinal or recreational purposes. They have two types of pistils that protrude from the calyxes that surround the buds. The pistils are the reproductive structures of the female plant that capture pollen from the male plant. During flowering, the pistils change color from ivory to reddish-brown. Female plants have wider leaves with prominent venation and darker green color than male plants. On the tips of their branches, they produce resinous buds that contain cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

Hermaphrodite Cannabis Plants

Hermaphrodite cannabis plants have both male and female reproductive organs, which means they can pollinate themselves. This happens for various reasons, including genetics, environmental factors, and stress. Hermaphrodite plants produce both male and female flowers, but they are usually less potent than those from separate sexes.

Not all cannabis growers want male plants as they only pollinate female plants, leading to a lower potency of the resulting product. Male plants can also cause an allergic reaction in some people. Conversely, female plants are desirable as they produce buds. Hermaphrodite plants are often culled from growing spaces, but some growers keep them for breeding purposes.

The Bottom Line

Understanding the difference between male and female cannabis plants is crucial to maximize yields, enhance potency, and avoid unwanted pollination. But cultivators also need to know what to do with male and hermaphrodite plants since they serve other essential purposes like breeding and research. It is worth noting that not all cannabis strains have the same sex expression, and environmental factors can influence the decision in the case of hermaphroditism.