How to Tell a Pot Plant is Female or Male

If you are a cannabis grower, it is essential to determine if your pot plant is male or female. It is because only female cannabis plants produce buds, which are the primary source of THC and CBD that's treasured by most marijuana enthusiasts.

Differentiating Between Male and Female Cannabis Plants

Male cannabis plants have thicker stems and are taller than female plants. They also lack the small, hair-like pistils that appear on female plants. In contrast, female cannabis plants have lighter green leaves, finer stems, and are more prone to have a bushy look, especially towards the top of the plant.

To be 100% sure, wait until your plants develop pre-flowers, typically around six weeks from planting. Pre-flowers occur when the cannabis plant is around six weeks old, and its reproductive organs begin to form. Visual inspection of the pre-flowers will let you know whether your pot plant is male or female.

Inspecting Pre-Flowers on Cannabis Plants

Pre-flowers on cannabis plants come in different shapes and sizes and will appear under the fifth or sixth leaf below the plant's main stem. Check to see if they are developing at the plant's nodes. A "node" is where a leaf joins the stem.

Male pre-flowers produce round and firm pollen sacs that have a teardrop shape. The pollen sacs are very noticeable and will appear even without magnification, and they grow in clusters around the plant's nodes.

On the other hand, female pre-flowers grow around the plant's nodes and will have tiny, hair-like pistils. The pistils will develop into long, white hair-like structures that are responsible for capturing the male pollen, hence fertilizing the female cannabis plant.

Identifying Hermaphrodite Cannabis Plants

Sometimes the cannabis plant might produce both male and female flowers. Such plants are known as hermaphrodites. Identifying hermaphrodite cannabis plants is a bit tricky.

You can identify hermaphrodite cannabis plants by looking for pollen sacs (male flowers) and pistils (female flowers) growing on the same plant. Hermaphrodite plants can self-pollinate and produce seeds, so they should be separated from the other plants as soon as possible to prevent pollination.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the exact gender of your cannabis plant is crucial, especially if you are looking to cultivate buds for consumption. Male plants can harm your crop by pollinating the female plants and reducing THC levels. Therefore, it is crucial to keep an eye out for pre-flower development around six weeks and identify male, female, or hermaphrodite plants to optimize yields and quality.