How to sex male and female cannabis plants early

Gender equality is one of the bigger issues of the last 20 years. But when it comes to growing weed, the scale is flipped and heavily tipped in favor of the ladies, with the dudes taking a backseat.

Female cannabis plants are the ones that grow the flowers, the nugs, the buds, the stuff we’re after. Male cannabis plants, on the other hand, produce pollen that is used for breeding and creating new strains. But the last thing you want in your grow room is a bunch of males pollinating your females and ruining your harvest.

As a grower, one of the first things you need to learn (especially if you plan on growing your plants from ‘regular’ seeds) is how to sex your plants and determine their gender. Doing so will save you valuable time, effort, and resources by allowing you to separate the males from the females early on in the growing process.

Why identifying cannabis plant gender is important

I touched on this lightly just above, but let’s get our hands a little dirtier here. Unless you’re specifically trying to breed cannabis plants in your garden, the males serve no purpose other than pollination, and let’s face it, hassle and waste – or worse.

By identifying the gender of your cannabis plants early, you can avoid this entirely. Removing male plants from your grow not only saves your precious queens from pollination but also maximizes the yield and quality of your harvest. For breeders, knowing which plants are male and female helps you isolate the best candidates for creating new strains with desirable traits.

Simply put, if your goal is to grow quality buds (or run a successful breeding program), identifying plant gender is step one.

Understanding the differences between male and female cannabis plants

For the first few weeks, the boys and girls of the cannabis world look pretty much identical, making it impossible to tell them apart. But as the plants hit puberty (usually around 4-6 weeks if grown indoors), the tell-tale signs of gender start to appear.

The dudes literally grow ‘balls’, while the females develop ‘hairs’ or pistils at the nodes. These then develop into the pollen sacs and buds respectively, but let’s go into more detail…

NOTE: we are going to discuss ‘nodes’ a fair bit in this write up, and it is important for you to understand what nodes are exactly. Nodes are where branches meet the main stem of the plant and where you need to pay close attention to when sexing your cannabis crop.

Step-by-step guide to identifying cannabis plant sex early

1. Check nodes early: From the very beginning, get used to inspecting the nodes. Preflowers should arrives any time after week 3.
2. Separate suspicious plants: If you spot early signs of pollen sacs or are unsure about a plant, isolate it immediately – the further from your ladies, the better.
3. Label and organize: Keep a grow journal of your findings and always label suspect plants for future reference. As you work your way through your growing journey, you will find that the more info you record, the more you can learn and improve your skills.

Identifying male cannabis preflowers: pollen sacs and other markers

Male cannabis plants, thankfully, tend to reveal themselves slightly earlier than females, which makes it easier to identify and remove them before pollination occurs. Here’s what to look for:

• Pollen sacs: These are small, ball-shaped growths at the nodes. Initially, they may appear as tiny bumps but grow more distinct over time.
• Growth characteristics: Male plants are often taller and less bushy than females, with fewer leaves and a focus on vertical growth.
• No pistils: Unlike females, males lack the white pistils that signal budding.

Identifying female cannabis preflowers: pistils and pre-flowers

Just like with male plants, spotting the early signs of female cannabis plants is all about checking out the nodes. Female preflowers indicate your plant is destined to produce those prized buds. Here are the key markers to look for:

1. Pistils: Look for thin, white, hair-like structures that push out from small, tear-shaped bracts at the nodes. These pistils are the first sign of a female plant gearing up to flower.
2. Growth characteristics: Female plants usually (but not always) have a bushier, more compact structure than males, focusing their energy on lateral branching and budding sites.
3. No pollen sacs: Unlike males, females won’t develop the rounded pollen sacs that signal a male plant. Instead, their reproductive structures will remain elongated and hair-like.

What to do if male plants are found in your grow area

Once you’ve identified male plants, act fast:

1. Remove them: Unless you’re planning on starting a breeding program, get rid of the boys IMMEDIATELY. Remember, you are not losing anything by removing them early, you’re actually gaining a lot more in the long run.
2. Dispose safely: Carefully remove them to avoid spreading any pollen. If the pollen sacs have matured and are ready to open (or already have opened) grab a few paper bags and wet them slightly, then gently place them over the sacs and gently seal off the male plants. This will help contain any potential pollination.
3. Monitor closely: Even if you’re confident you’ve removed all males, keep an eye on your plants over the next week or two. Sometimes a stray pollen sac can escape and still do some damage.

Dealing with hermaphrodite plants: what to look for

Hermaphrodite cannabis plants, or “hermies”, are something that all growers need to be ready for, especially if you are growing a Sativa crop or running heavy-stress training techniques.

Hermies usually turn up as a result of stress, such as from lack of water or nutrients, extreme temperatures changes, or light/light timing issues. They are also genetic anomalies, and some strains are more prone to hermaphroditism than others. So, make sure you do your research before choosing a strain.

That said, as long as you treat your girls like the queens they are, you should be able to avoid hermaphroditism. But what do you need to look out for?

• Male pollen sacs, usually in the shape of tiny bananas. We refer to these as “nanners” and finding these are a clear sign that your female plant is trying to produce pollen.
• Normal, ball-shaped pollen sacs can also appear, but this is much less common.

Can hermies be saved?

This is undoubtedly a contested topic, but in my view, the best course of action is to immediately remove the plant from the growing area. A single hermaphroditic plant has the potential to pollinate an entire crop, risking all of that hard work and potentially ruining your harvest. By removing the plant, you are reducing this risk significantly.

When and how to sex cannabis plants

From week 3 onwards (especially with autos, who show their sex much earlier than photoperiod strains), start checking the nodes every day, looking for signs of pollen sacs and pistils. Remember that males tend to show up earlier than females.

Ideal timing for identifying plant gender during the growth cycle

Cannabis preflowers usually show up 3 to 6 weeks into the growth cycle. However, this can vary depending on strain, environmental conditions, soil and nutrient quality, pH regulation, and a whole host of other factors.

The key is to be vigilant and check your plants regularly, as missing the preflowers can result in disaster.

Genetic testing for cannabis plant gender

While genetic testing is slowly becoming more mainstream, and definitely more affordable – for the overwhelming majority of weed growers, it is simply overkill. By the time you get your results back, it’s likely that you will already have spotted the pre-flowers.

However, if you’re curious or want to be extra sure about the sex of your plant before removing any male plants, you can always send a small sample to a lab for testing. Just be aware that this option may not be available in all areas or may be cost-prohibitive.

The wrap-up

The goal of growing weed for bud harvest is simple: keep the ladies as happy as possible, and the boys far away. Learning to sex your cannabis plants early isn’t just a handy skill – it’s an absolute necessity if you want to avoid the headache of pollination and the disappointment of a ruined harvest.

The best way to maintain a healthy crop and maximize your yield is by regularly inspecting your plants, focusing on the nodes, and acting swiftly when males or hermies show up. Sure, genetic testing is out there, but most of us are better off with a sharp eye and some patience.

At the end of the day, your plants (and the buds they give you) are what make it all worthwhile. Ready to put your knowledge into action? Check out the best auto weed seeds worldwide to make the magic happen.