Male and Female Cannabis Plants: What Are The Differences? 

As a medical cannabis patient, understanding the differences between male and female cannabis plants can deepen your appreciation for the plant's unique qualities and its role in your treatment. Female cannabis plants are particularly significant because they produce flowers (cannabis buds) that contain the cannabinoids and terpenes responsible for the potential wellness benefits of medical marijuana. 

If you appreciate cannabis, it is interesting to learn more about those magical cannabinoids and terpenes that seem to do so much to improve our quality of life. The earliest evidence of cannabis Sativa dates back to the Neolithic B period (8800-6500 BCE). When it comes to life on this planet, cannabis has been here for a very long time. 

People who work in cannabis cultivation and processing are experts in the genealogy of the plant. However, the rest of us may not understand just how unique and special cannabis is as a species. The plant has many impressive adaptations that have allowed it to thrive for thousands of years. 

Here is a fun fact from our team at Texas 420 Doctors: did you know that sativa, sativus, and sativum are Latin words that translate to “cultivated?” This is a historical nod to our long agricultural relationship with hemp and cannabis flower buds. The healing herb has always been helpful to human civilization. 

In this article, we’ll separate the boys from the girls. If you have ever wondered how to tell the difference between male and female marijuana plants, you may find the science behind every cannabis breeding program interesting. 

When Do Cannabis Plants Show The First Signs Of Gender?

An experienced cannabis cultivator in Texas could identify a male or female plant in less than a minute. The first visual indication of a cannabis plant's sex develops as “pre-flowers” that grow between the 4th and 6th nodes of the plant. 

Male cannabis plants show preflowers that look like tiny, very smooth pollen sacs. The egg-shaped sacs emerge around four weeks after germination. Female cannabis plants are fashionably late. They take a little longer to get ready, with pre-flowers emerging around 4-6 weeks after germination. 

Female plants develop tiny, v-shaped pistils with delicate white or pink hairs. Like many conventional flowers, the pistils are designed to catch pollen from male plants. However, the presence of female seeds in cannabis flower is undesirable, and professional cultivars take steps to avoid seed production.

The Differences Between Male And Female Marijuana Plants

Much like a segregated private school, one of the top priorities for cannabis cultivators is to identify male vs. female cannabis plants and separate them quickly. This step is critically important to protect the genetic qualities of the strains that are being produced. 

Cannabis is good at propagating in the wild or open fields (which is why controlled dispensary cultivation occurs indoors rather than outside). For instance, if you took some cannabis seeds and planted them in your garden, you would have both male and female seedlings growing together. But if you wanted your female plants to breed with only one male plant from a specific strain, you’d need to remove other male seedlings before they reach sexual maturity. 

Sounds complicated, doesn't it? The genetic purity of the cannabis flower (and the attributes including THC potency, flavonoids, minor cannabinoids, and terpene content) is only possible when cultivators strictly control the breeding process. 

Growth patterns can also help identify the gender or sex of cannabis plants. Male plants typically grow taller than female plants but have fewer branches. If male cannabis plants are to breed successfully, they need to release pollen into the wind, where it can travel and propagate mature female plants. Being taller helps that objective. 

Female plants are usually shorter, with more branches, and have a more bushy appearance. The structure of branches in female plants is infinitely more complex and lush. The height difference between male and female plants optimizes pollination. Once female plants have received pollen, they form cannabis flowers or buds. 

Hermaphrodite Cannabis Plants: The Germination Anomaly 

There are male and female cannabis plants, and then there are hermaphrodites. Hermaphrodites are rare genetic anomalies in which one single plant develops both male and female reproductive structures, and they are a big problem for cannabis cultivators if germination and fertilization occur.

Developing both gender attributes in a single plant can lead to self-pollination. That may sound like an efficient adaptation, and many species of plants can also develop hermaphroditism. However, cannabis cultivars want to protect the genetic material (and consistency) of the strain they are growing, and hermaphrodite plants threaten the overall quality and higher potency of the crop. 

Genetic mutations or environmental stressors cause hermaphrodite cannabis plants. For all the natural resilience that hermies exhibit, they are sensitive and need specific growing conditions. Any exposure to extreme temperatures, nutrient imbalance, or light versus dark schedules can cause the genetic mutation. 

Cultivators seek and destroy any hermaphrodite cannabis plants because of their dual anatomy. They don’t keep the seeds or even compost the plants to enrich the soil; instead, they extract and often incinerate the plants to avoid cross-pollination. Hermaphroditic cannabis plants that are bred have a high likelihood of passing along the mutation to future generations. 

Some cannabis cultivars study hermaphroditic plants; however, they aim to unlock some of their mysteries (they are resilient) and reduce the frequency with which they form in commercial crops. 

Male Marijuana Plants Are Still Useful

Many people wonder, what are male cannabis plants used for? Male cannabis plants have one job. After releasing their pollen to reach as many female marijuana plants as possible, their role is complete. Indoor cultivation processes remove the male plants immediately after pollination, about 4-5 weeks into the male growth cycle. However, in commercial cultivation environments, male cannabis plants are denied the opportunity for reproduction.

Compost And Fertilizer

Just because the breeding process is over, however, doesn’t mean that mature male marijuana plants have no purpose. Male weed plants have taproots that extend deeply into the soil, which means they collect a high quantity of micronutrients that can be used for fertilization. These can replenish the soil as compost for new male seedlings or other crops.  Male pollen also emits a scent that is a pest deterrent, and there may be organic agricultural applications for that in the future.

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Agricultural Hemp Fiber

Male cannabis plants have fewer leaves and thicker stalks but produce softer (and higher quality) fibers than their female counterparts. These fibers can be repurposed to manufacture cloth napkins, linens, and clothing. 

Manufacturing Edibles From Male Sativa Cannabis Plants

The pollen sacs, leaves, and stems on male cannabis plants contain enough cannabinoid content to create oil extract. After extraction, that oil can be used to make cannabis and hash concentrates, edibles, and marijuana juice or tea. 

Researchers are also studying the roots of male cannabis plants for commercial applications. Those deep roots contain triterpenoids and alkaloids, which could be used to produce products to relieve pain, as they have potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 

Flower Power! Female Cannabis Plants And High-Quality Buds

Smokable marijuana flower is not legalized in the state of Texas. However, all the products you find at local Texas dispensaries are derived from the high-quality cannabis buds that female plants produce. Higher THC strains tend to be more valuable.

During the flowering stage, concentrated cannabinoids accumulate in the female organs and buds. Trichomes develop around the calyx and look like small, gland-like structures that produce and store terpenes and cannabinoids. The coveted cannabis resin is also contained within the trichomes.

Commercial cultivators will remove male plants from the vicinity of the female crop before the plants have a chance to pollinate. That helps produce quality marijuana flower. If a female plant is pollinated, the natural life cycle leads to the production of seeds. 

Grower-Friendly Autoflowering Cannabis Plants

In other states, patients with a medical card are permitted to grow a small quantity of cannabis plants at home. However, while the idea sounds appealing, first-time hobby growers learn that growing cannabis is harder than it looks. 

To thrive and grow high-quality bud, female cannabis plants need:

• Quality Seeds: Inexpensive marijuana seeds may have a low growth rate and lower propagation rates.
• Light Cycle: For photoperiod strains, a consistent equal amount of light and darkness (12 hours) in the growing area to induce flowering.
• Nutrients: Balanced nutrients with higher phosphorus and potassium levels during flowering to support bud development.
• Water: Adequate watering without overwatering; proper drainage is essential.
• Temperature: Optimal temperatures between 65-80°F (18-27°C) to prevent stress and encourage healthy flowering.
• Humidity: Maintain moderate humidity levels (40-50%) to prevent mold and mildew.
• Airflow: Good ventilation and airflow to reduce the risk of mold and ensure healthy plant respiration.
• pH Levels: Proper pH balance in soil or hydroponic solutions (typically 6.0-6.8) for optimal nutrient uptake.
• Support: Staking or trellising may be needed to support heavy buds and prevent breakage.
• Space: Sufficient space for the plant to grow and expand, mainly as it develops flowers.
• Stress Management: Minimize environmental stressors and handle stems gently to avoid disrupting flowering.

Auto-flowering cannabis plants were bred to make cultivators' lives easier. The female auto-flowering strains transition from the early stages to seedling and then mature plants with little disruption. They are the consummate low-maintenance cannabis plants, and (as the name suggests) they automatically flower when they reach maturity. It usually takes 8-12 weeks to complete the growth cycle.

Where at-home cannabis cultivation is permitted by law, auto-flowering cannabis plants are popular because they are easier to propagate for beginners. The one downfall of the variety is that they produce lower yields with lower THC potency. 

Why No One Wants Seeds In Weed

Today, most mass-cultivated strains are sensimilla or seedless marijuana plants. Cannabis seeds can ruin the quality of the flower being harvested. In other states, you may see seeded weed for sale at a considerable discount in retail dispensaries because very few people want to buy it. 

You cannot smoke cannabis seeds. If you were to pack a bowl or cone with seeded flowers, it would be like fireworks going off once you incinerate it. It is a very unpleasant experience. Not only that, but the seeds have a distinct burnt taste and have little to no cannabinoid or terpene content. 

When female cannabis plants are denied pollination, they repurpose their energy into creating lush and potent flower instead of seeds, which is what cultivators want to happen. Unintentional cross-pollination can still occur, so you may see the occasional seeded flower for sale in dispensaries when traveling outside of Texas. 

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