Every experienced marijuana grower knows that female plants provide us with the best cannabis. The “weed gender discrimination” joke is a common joke in many weed aficioando circles, but it’s based on a definite fact: female plants are the preferred choice by a long shot. To help you to know why this is, we are here to discuss everything you need to know about male vs. female cannabis and what to do with male cannabis to get the best out of it.
This guide is designed to provide you with details on the marijuana plant’s anatomy so you can make the distinction between male and female marijuana and learn how to handle each type of weed. It will also help you understand what male cannabis plants are used for. Let’s dive into the gendered world of high-spirited marijuana and cannabis and discover what makes male and female cannibis plants so distinct.
Here are the top feminized cannabis seeds:
Understanding the Differences in Cannabis: Male vs Female
Marijuana plants are dioecious plants, which means different plants have different reproductive organs, which is what classifies them into male and female categories. Sometimes, hermaphrodites are possible due to the presence of both male and female reproductive organs in one plant. A female cannabis plant produces flowers commonly known as buds, whereas a male cannabis plant produces pollen sacks. The pollen sacks pollinate the flowers of female plants in order to produce seeds.
The difference between male cannabis vs. female cannabis plants matters to growers and breeders for different reasons. A breeder seeks different genetics. Understanding the difference between male vs female cannibus is key in marijuana reproduction. Without this knowledge, trying to pair marijuana plants and seeds of different genetics will not work. Having the proper male versus female cannabis ratio is a must for those wanting to obtain more seeds.
A grower, on the other hand, typically seeks out female plants for recreational reasons, mostly because of the potent smokable buds that are full of resin. A female plant needs to remain unpollinated in order to grow a potent smokable bud. If the female plant gets pollinated, the bud will produce seeds, which have a lower potency and a lower market rate.
All types of cannabis plants have two stages of growth: vegetative and flowering. The vegetative stage is the growing stage, whereas the flowering stage is the adulthood stage. In the flowering stage, there is a distinction in male vs female canabis, but it can be hard to tell because both plants produce almost identical buds. The female plant produces flowers and the male produces sacs. If the male pollinates the female, the female plant’s flower will produce seeds in its flower for further reproduction. Whereas, if it’s not pollinated, the flower of the female plant will grow into a bud full of potent resin.
When pollinated, the female bud–also called the calyx–the plant’s reproductive organ, and the pistils (which are hairy growths on the buds) catch pollen and dedicate their energy to producing seeds. However, when the calyx is not pollinated, it dedicates its energy to developing the flower. The result is what we see on store shelves – high potent marijuana that’s rich in resin and has lots of THC and other cannabinoids.
Identifying Marijuana – Male vs Female Cannabis Plants
Identifying male vs. female cannibis plants is possible at the pre-flowering stage, where both genders produce flowers or buds to bloom and rupture. Male plants will produce ball-like or sac-like pre-flowers, whereas female plants will have hairy, thread-like pistils or buds. Eventually, the sac bursts and releases pollen upon maturing, and the thread-like pistils of the female bud catch pollen in order to get pollinated.
The buds – or pre-flowers – of male cannabis vs. female cannabis plants also look different on a structural level if they’re examined closely. Other than noticing the presence and absence of pistils, those who know what to look for will also notice that a male plant’s sac will look roundish. Meanwhile, the female plant will look pointed when it is ready to bloom in the future.
Identifying these pre-flowers near the plant’s nodes – which are between the main stem and branches – will help you determine the sex of the plants and give you a couple of weeks to make a decision if you are interested in breeding and obtaining seeds. If you want seeds, you can also allow the male sacks to mature and pollinate the females plants. After pollination, the plant will focus on the process of producing seeds rather than growing the flower.
On the other end of the spectrum, if you are looking for the cannabinoid-rich resin bud filled with THC, you should quickly remove the male plants to keep the female plants from getting pollinated. A female plant will continue to grow flowers rich in cannabinoids if it is not pollinated, which means more potent buds ideal for smoking and more.
It’s important to note that identifying male vs female marijuana plants may be easier in some stages than others based on the genetics of the plant. Within 3 to 6 weeks in the vegetative cycle, some marijuana plants will begin the flowering stage, which means you can identify male vs female cannibus with ease. However, the time that it takes for different plants to reach the flowering stage differs depending on the strain itself and the growing conditions, which include the amount of light the plant is exposed to and the temperature it grows in. However, over time, it will become easier for you to identify all cannabis male vs. female variations.
Some people use specific methods to grow female plants and plants that flower rapidly, which means that they already know their male vs female canabis ratio early on. Growers use genetically modified seeds to produce female plants and auto-flowering plants that quickly flower and create mostly female plants. With this method, the risk of having a male plant or having too many male plants in your male and female cannabis ratio is avoided as much as possible.
However, intersex plants can sometimes appear and can ruin your growth. Feminized seeds can also sometimes not grow into female plants with the same auto-flowering features, so it’s still important to take time to identify male vs female cannibis.
What to Do With the Male Cannabis Plant and How to Make Use of Male Marijuana
When you identify a male cannabis plant, you may be wondering: what exactly should you do with it?
If you are a breeder, you will mostly be breeding different mariajuana strains and cross breeding different genetics. Male plants still hold quite a lot of value for traditional breeders because they give them a way to breed the plants naturally and not through the use of clones. In other words, they are needed for the future generation of the strain. However, growers will definitely get rid of any excess male plants very quickly.
Male cannabis (vs. female cannabis) is still suitable for many things. Contrary to popular belief, the male cannabis plant does have enough THC content for it to be suitable for recreational purposes. Male cannabis plants are used to prepare hashish, which is concentrated resin. They can also be used for other recreational purposes for the small amount of THC they hold in their leaves, stem, and sacs. When looking at the distinctions between male vs. female cannabis, it’s easy to see that male cannabis does not offer high potency like female cannabis, but cannabinoids and terpenes still make them useful.
Oils can be extracted from males plants that have medicinal as well as pest repellent properties. Another useful part of male cannabis plants is their hemp fibers, which have many applications. A more comprehensive cultivation of male cannabis plants can be used to obtain finer hemp fiber. When comparing cannabis male vs. female distinctions, you may be able to tell the difference in the hemp fiber. For female plants, it’s clear to see that the hemp fiber of female plants is much more delicate and soft.
Further cultivation of male cannabis plants can help growers protect their gardens thanks to the plant’s insect repellent qualities and deep taproots that infiltrate and improve the soil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Male vs. Female Marijuana
1. MALE CANNABIS VS. FEMALE CANNABIS – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Both male and female cannabis plants have a difference in anatomy, where the female produces flowers and the males produce sac-like buds filled with pollen. Female cannabis plants make their buds rich and potent if they are not pollinated by male plants, and they produce buds filled with seeds if they are pollinated by males.
2. HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SEX AND GENDER OF CANABIS – MALE VS FEMALE PLANT
The sex and gender of male vs female cannibus plants can be identified at the pre-flowering stage when sac-like buds grow at the nodes of the plant. A female plant has buds or pre-flowers that look pointed and have pistils that have a hair-like, extended structure. In comparison, the male plant has roundish sacs. There is almost no difference between the male and female plants before the pre-flowering stage.
3. WHY REMOVE THE MALE CANNABIS PLANT?
Male cannabis plants pollinate female plants, which then produce buds or flowers filled with seeds. When a male plant is removed from the grow area, the female plant or plants do not get pollinated and deliver flowers that are richer in resin, cannabinoids, and THC. Growers cultivating marijuana for recreational purposes remove male cannabis plants and often cultivate feminized seeds to get female plants.
4. WHAT TO DO WITH MALE CANNABIS PLANTS
Male cannabis plants are often discarded due to their low THC levels and potency. However, they can be used in other important ways. Male cannabis plants still have THC present in their leaves, stems, and even their sacs that can be extracted and used for recreational purposes. The plant can also be used to obtain hemp for fabric, terpenes oil (aromatic oil), pest control, and more.
5. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO AVOID AN UNBALANCED MALE AND FEMALE CANNABIS PLANT RATIO IN A CANNABIS GROW SETUP?
To avoid having too many male plants in your grow setup, you can germinate feminized and auto-flowering seeds to get more female plants and plants that flower quickly that are easier to identify. You can also identify male plants right at the pre-flowering stage and remove them from the growing area.
Conclusion: The Most Important Aspects of Male vs Female Marijuana
We hope that our guide has helped our readers discover more about the differences in male vs female cannibis plants and why paying attention to gender plays an essential role in the growing process. Hopefully, you can now identify the gender of your own marijuana plants and make quicker decisions on how to handle male versus female cannabis in your garden. Overall, the plant world is fascinating, and we’re happy to give our readers a sneak peak into it. Stick with us and keep learning about these fantastic plants from our articles and guides.
Author
Table of Contents