How to Tell If Your Pot Plant is Male

When growing cannabis, it’s important to distinguish between male and female plants. Female plants are the ones that produce the buds you want to harvest, while male plants produce pollen that can fertilize and ruin your females. Here’s how to tell if your pot plant is male:

1. Look at the Flowers

Male cannabis plants produce small, ball-shaped flowers that grow in clusters. These flowers are called pollen sacs or “balls” and they don’t have any white hairs coming out of them. Female plants produce teardrop-shaped flowers with white, hair-like pistils that protrude from them. These pistils are the beginnings of the buds you want to harvest.

2. Check the Internodes

Male cannabis plants have fewer internodes, or nodes where the stem meets the branches, than female plants. Their branches are also thicker and sturdier than females. Female plants, on the other hand, have more internodes and their branches are more slender and delicate.

3. Examine the Leaves

Male cannabis plants have leaves that are thicker and heftier than female plants. Their leaves also have a rounder shape and less symmetry than females. Female plants have leaves that are thinner and pointier, with a more symmetrical shape overall.

4. Monitor the Smell

When cannabis plants begin to flower, they produce a pungent smell that varies depending on the strain. Male plants have a stronger, musky scent than females. If you notice a strong odor, it might be a sign that you have a male plant.

5. Look for Bananas

Cannabis plants, both male and female, can sometimes produce small, banana-shaped, hermaphroditic flowers in addition to their regular male/female flowers. These “bananas” contain both male and female reproductive parts and can fertilize themselves or other plants nearby, leading to the production of seeds. Check your plants regularly for these “bananas” and remove any plants that show them.

Conclusion

Determining the sex of your cannabis plants can be a bit tricky, but with practice, you’ll quickly learn to spot the differences between male and female plants. The most effective way to ensure female-only plants is to purchase feminized seeds or clones. If you do end up with a male plant, it’s best to remove it from your grow room to prevent pollination of your females.