When Should You Harvest Male Pot Plants

Male cannabis plants can cause issues for your growing operation if you’re not careful. They do not produce the same potent buds that female plants do, and only serve to pollinate them, which can result in decreased quality and yield. Here’s how to identify and remove male plants and when to do it for optimal results.

Identifying Male Plants

Male cannabis plants can be identified by their preflowers or immature flowers that emerge between the nodes of their branches. These flowers will show at the same time or even before female flowers begin to appear, but they are different in shape, size, and texture. Male flowers don’t have the small white hairs called pistils that female flowers do. Instead, they have stamens that produce pollen.

Why Remove Male Plants

If you don’t remove male plants, they’ll cross-pollinate your females and can cause your cannabis to develop seeds. This reduces the potency of your buds and lowers your yield. It can also lead to having to remove the seeds from your buds, which is time-consuming and can be frustrating.

When To Harvest Male Plants

Male plants should be harvested once you are confident that they have shown their sex and are indeed male plants. This typically occurs when the male plant is six to eight weeks old. This length of time allows the male plants to mature enough to reveal their preflowers so you can quickly identify them and remove them before they have a chance to pollinate females.

How To Remove Male Plants

If you’re growing your cannabis indoors, it’s best to remove the male plant entirely to prevent any accidental pollination. Cut off the stalk close to the root and dispose of it properly. If you’re growing cannabis outdoors or in a greenhouse, you can isolate the male plant from the female plants to prevent pollination. However, this can be difficult and time-consuming, and there’s still a risk of cross-contamination. The best course of action is to remove the male plant entirely to protect the quality and potency of your female plants.

In Conclusion

For the best results with cannabis, it’s essential to pay attention to your plants and remove any male plants early on. Doing so can help prevent cross-pollination, which can negatively impact the quality and yield of your crop. By harvesting male plants once they show their sex but before they can produce pollen, you can ensure that your female plants stay unpollinated and produce healthy, potent buds.