Cannabis: how to distinguish between male and female plants?

Are you interested in the world of cannabis and have you ever wondered about the distinction between male and female plants? This distinction is fundamental and greatly influences the use and characteristics of the plant. In fact, knowing how to recognize male and female cannabis not only helpsoptimize harvesting, but also gives you a better understanding of the plant's properties. Whether you're a curious grower or an informed consumer, this knowledge is essential. Stay with us to demystify male and female cannabis and discover an interesting alternative at the end of this article.

What's the difference between male and female cannabis? 

Cannabis is a dioecious plant, meaning it has both male and female individuals. Occasionally, the plant can also be hermaphroditic (or monoecious), bearing both male and female flowers on the same individual.

Generally speaking, male plants are those that develop male flowers and female plants those that bear female flowers.

Male cannabis plants bear clusters of bells called panicles. As they open, they release pollen which fertilizes the females, producing seeds.

As for female cannabis plants, they produce teardrop-shaped calyxes from which emerge two small filaments, the pistils, which are usually white. These calyxes, grouped together, form what are commonly known as buds.

To find the best CBD herb, it's essential to know how to recognize a healthy female plant, as it's the flowers that concentrate the sought-after cannabinoids. Knowing how to distinguish between male and female cannabis is therefore essential from the very first weeks of growth, in order to orientate cultivation correctly.

Feminized seeds first appeared around twenty years ago, revolutionizing cannabis cultivation. Before that, only regular seeds existed, capable of producing both male and female plants.

In cannabis cultivation, male plants are undesirable, as their pollen fertilizes the females, generating heads full of seeds, poor in desirable cannabinoids. That's why many growers quickly learn to identify male and female cannabis plants, in order to select only those females that produce quality flowers.

Except in the case of seed production, growers generally eliminate male plants to preserve flower quality and quantity. Feminized seeds offer a reliable solution, producing almost exclusively female plants.

Male and female cannabis: when can you tell them apart?

Contrary to popular belief, which often associates the flowering and sexual identification of cannabis with a prolonged night-time photoperiod, plants actually reach sexual maturity much earlier. Typically, between six and eight weeks after seed germination, the plant's gender becomes apparent, and without the need for lighting modifications.

This early development is a boon for growers. It makes it possible to quickly identify male or female cannabis, before any stress associated with cuttings or changes in photoperiod.

By the time your plants reach the fifth or sixth leaf stage, around two months after germination, they've probably already revealed their sex. Barring rare cases of stress-induced hermaphroditism, the sex they display at this stage is the one they will retain throughout their life cycle.

Understanding the difference between male and female CBD also helps us to better understand what CBD is used for, since it is mainly extracted from the flowers of female plants.

Knowing how to visually recognize male and female cannabis at this early stage enables you to optimize the management of your crop efficiently. By refining this technique, you'll be able to diagnose the sex of your cannabis plants early on, optimizing your cultivation.

How to choose quality cannabis plants?

Selecting a quality cannabis plant is essential, whether you're a grower or a consumer of CBD flowers. Beyond the simple sex of the plant, several fundamental criteria guide this crucial choice.

It all starts with genetics. A high-quality plant comes from a stable lineage, offering predictable characteristics in terms of growth, robustness and cannabinoid and terpene composition. Ask about varieties (Indica for relaxation, Sativa for energy, or hybrids) and choose seed banks or growers with a reputation for reliability.

Recognizing whether a cannabis plant is male or female is an important step in guaranteeing the quality of the flowers harvested, as only the female plant produces cannabinoid-rich buds.

The physical appearance of the plant is a direct indicator of its health. A healthy plant has bright green leaves, free from blemishes or signs of deficiency. Its structure should be robust, with strong stems. For flowers, look for dense, well-formed heads abundantly covered with shiny trichomes (resin glands containing active compounds), a sign of strength and quality.

Smell is another decisive criterion. A quality plant gives off a strong, pleasant aroma, indicative of its high terpene content. Trust your nose: a fresh, complex smell, without musty notes, is a good sign. The intensity of this aroma is directly linked to terpene concentration.

For dried flowers, make sure they are completely free of mold and parasites. Flowers must be properly dried and cured to allow their aromas to develop to the full, and to avoid excessive humidity that could lead to mildew.

Finally, mastering the distinction between male and female cannabis helps optimize cultivation and ensure a superior harvest. In short, choosing a quality cannabis plant comes down to evaluating its genetics, healthy, resinous appearance, powerful aroma and absence of defects, thus guaranteeing an optimal experience.

The best of cannabis with CBD Trim Mix

For cannabinoid enthusiasts looking for a quality product, CBD Trim Mix is a clever solution. Produced by manicuring cannabis flowers, it's made up of small leaves and floral fragments - real cannabinoid mines.

This blend is ideal for those looking to create their own infusions, extractions, or other CBD-based products, offering a more affordable route without sacrificing the benefits of the plant. It's also an excellent natural alternative to tobacco.

Male and female cannabis influence the composition of the trichomes, and this Trim Mix is carefully selected to guarantee optimum cannabinoid richness. Naturalpes offers this type of product with high standards and transparency, relying on responsible cultivation and CBD-rich varieties.

Cannabis CBD Trim Mix is the result of a meticulous process of manicuring cannabis flowers after they have dried. It is made up not only of small leaves, but also of small buds, still loaded with trichomes, which concentrate most of the active compounds.

Designed to deliver a rich aromatic and therapeutic experience, this mix is crafted from renowned CBD strains. Imagine finding the distinctive notes of popular strains such as Amnesia Haze, Strawberry and Lemon Haze, all brought together in this blend.

At Floralpes, our mastery of the distinction between male and female cannabis enables us to select only the best female plants, thus ensuring the superior quality of the final product. Floralpes is proud to offer you top-quality trim from the best genetics grown on Swiss plantations.

As soon as you open Cannabis CBD Trim Mix, you can smell the intense and varied aromas, offering a unique sensory experience. This olfactory and gustatory richness is the result of a harmonious blend of flowers from different cannabis varieties. Understanding the role of male and female cannabis is therefore essential to guarantee the quality and purity of the CBD Trim Mix offered.

FAQ

Written by Vincent Hego

Share this article

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL