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When do cannabis plants show gender? This is a question that many new growers ask. The answer is that cannabis plants usually show gender during the pre-flowering stage.
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Introduction
Cannabis plants show their gender in the flowering stage. The reproductive organs are generally referred to as staminate (male) or pistillate (female). Hermaphrodites are usually found in fewer numbers and are identified by the presence of both male and female flowers on the same plant. Male plants produce pollen while female plants produce the ovules that, when fertilized, become seeds. The sex of a cannabis plant is determined by its genetic makeup or genotype. Most commercially available cannabis strains have been bred to be predominantly female.
Male Cannabis Plants
Cannabis plants will typically begin to show gender signs when they are about 6 weeks old. The plant’s gender is determined by its chromosomes, and is identified by the presence or absence of certain hormones. Male cannabis plants produce more pollen than females, and are therefore less desirable for growers who are looking to produce buds. However, males are essential for breeding purposes, as they are needed to pollinate female flowers in order for seed production to occur.
Female Cannabis Plants
Cannabis plants show their gender very early on in their development cycle. Most growers can determine the gender of their plants by the time they are 6 weeks old.
The vast majority of cannabis growers want female plants, because only female plants produce flowers (buds). Male plants do not produce buds, and are therefore mostly useless to growers (unless you are growing cannabis forseed).
So how can you tell if a plant is male or female? The easiest way is to look at the pre-flowers, which will develop at the junction of the stem and a leaf. On female plants, these pre-flowers will look like tiny white pistils (hairs). On male plants, the pre-flowers will look like tiny balls.
Hermaphrodite Cannabis Plants
Hermaphrodite cannabis plants are those that have both male and female sexual organs. While this may not seem like a big deal, it can be aproblem for growers because hermaphrodite plants can pollinate themselves and other nearby plants. This can cause the resulting buds to be seeded, which reduces their potency and market value.
Hermaphroditism is relatively rare in cannabis, but it can happen due to stress or other factors. If you suspect that your plant isHermaphrodite, the best course of action is to remove it from your grow room immediately to prevent it from pollinating your other plants.
How to Determine the Gender of Your Cannabis Plant
It is essential to know the sex of your cannabis plant early on in the cultivation process. The gender of a cannabis plant will determine its future—only female plants produce the high-quality buds that are prized by growers.
Cannabis plants show their gender when they are around 6 weeks old. The male plants will produce pollen sacs, while the female plants will develop white pistils. The easiest way to determine the gender of your plant is to wait until the 6-week mark and then inspect your plant closely for these telltale signs.
If you want to ensure that your crop is entirely female, you can buy clones or “feminized” seeds from a reputable dealer. These seeds have been bred to remove the male chromosomes, so they will always produce female plants.
Once you have determined the gender of your plants, you can begin to plan for the future. If you have any male plants, you can eitherremove them from the grow room or set them aside for breeding purposes. If you are growing for personal use, it is generally advisable to get rid of the males because they take up valuable space and resources that could be better spent on females.
Knowing the gender of your cannabis plant is an important part of cultivation. By taking the time to determine the sex of your plants, you can ensure that your crop is as high-quality as possible.
Conclusion
To determine the gender of your cannabis plants, you’ll need to wait until they begin to show signs of pre-flowers. At this point, you can use a simple magnifying glass to take a close look at the calyxes and determine whether they are male or female. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to tell the difference between genders just by looking at pre-flowers, so you may need to wait until the plants are further along in their development before you can be certain.
Once you know the gender of your plants, you can decide whether to grow them for their buds (female plants) or pollen (male plants). If you’re growing for medical purposes, note that only female plants produce CBD.
