Marijuana and hermaphroditism
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In the world of cannabis cultivation, the phenomenon of hermaphroditism is a topic that arouses curiosity and concern among growers, especially those who are just starting out. Unlike many other plants, cannabis has the unique ability to develop both male and female flowers on the same plant, which can result in hermaphrodite plants.
In this article, we will explore in detail what hermaphroditism in cannabis is, how it develops, what its causes are, and what implications it has for growers. Additionally, we will discuss strategies to prevent and manage hermaphroditism in cannabis cultivation, helping you keep your crops free of genetic contamination and maximize the quality of the final product.
What is a hermaphrodite cannabis plant?
Cannabis is a dioecious plant, meaning it shows male and female sex in different plants; Some plants are male and produce male flowers, while others are female and produce female flowers. However, in certain cases, monoecious or hermaphroditic specimens can also be found, that is, they have both types of flowers in the same individual.
Thus, a hermaphrodite plant is a marijuana plant that has both female flowers and male flowers. Although it is a natural characteristic of this plant, this undesirable trait must be avoided in the cultivation of marijuana, otherwise there are great possibilities of finding seeds in the harvest, which simultaneously reduces its quantity and quality.
Broadly speaking, hermaphroditism (or the appearance of monoecious plants) can have two origins, genetic and environmental:
- At the genetic level, some marijuana varieties are more sensitive than others to hermaphrodism. This may come from the genetic origins of the variety (the Thai Sativa presents, for example, high hermaphroditism), or also from one of its parents possessing this trait.
- Beyond genetic sensitivity, a cannabis plant can become hermaphrodite under the influence of stress. When the plant feels that flowering conditions are too difficult, hermaphroditism is effectively a natural way of shortening this cycle, causing the fertilization of female flowers with pollen from some male flowers and thus ensuring their survival.
Sources of stress that increase the risk of hermaphroditism can have several causes, such as:
- Change in photoperiod, especially interruption of the night period during flowering
- Too high heat (approximately >27°C), adverse weather conditions
- Harvest too late, when the ideal harvest date is exceeded
- Mechanical stress: branches broken by the wind, roots damaged during a transplant, pruning in full bloom, etc.
- Irrigation problems ( lack or excess )
- Excess fertilizers or PK
- Insects, mites, diseases
- Thermal change (watering plants with water that is too cold)
- Excessive use of phytosanitary products (pesticides)
How to avoid hermaphroditism in cannabis?
To avoid hermaphrodite marijuana plants, the first rule is to try to stress the plants as little as possible during flowering, in order to limit the risks as much as possible. Practice all pruning work and support the plants during growth and at the beginning of flowering (during the stretching phase), before bud formation.
Maintain good climatic conditions in your space, perfect hygiene, and regularly check that your timer is well set, that your plants do not have marks from insects or mites, and that their nutrition and watering are well adapted. At the end of flowering, regularly observe the trichomes of the plants so as not to exceed the harvest date.
When to harvest marijuana plants according to trichome ripeness
Here you have a translation of an article from TGA Subcool about the harvest of cannabis plants. Both the effect and taste of marijuana are directly related to its harvesting time. How to know which is the perfect time for harvest? What are trichomes and how to harvest plants depending on their colour? How to maximize your crops according to the desired effect? Here you have the answers to all these questions, with examples and personal experiences...Subcool
When selecting marijuana varieties for upcoming crops, take the time to read crop summaries from other growers regarding these genetics and the seed banks that produce them. This way, you can easily avoid varieties with a lot of comments about hermaphroditism. We can notice that, in general, when there are too many comments about hermaphroditism in a variety, the breeder or seed bank often decides to remove it from their catalog.
Regular cannabis seeds are known to be a little less sensitive to hermaphroditism than feminized seeds, but it is not an absolute rule either: it will have to be monitored in all types of cultivation and whatever the origin of the seeds.
What to do if you find hermaphrodite cannabis plants?
From the beginning of flowering, it will be very important to observe the female plants as regularly as possible in search of male flowers. In full bloom, these male flowers are easily visible thanks to their bright yellow color and their shape, similar to small bananas. We will take advantage of this meticulous observation of the plants to look for any signs of insects, mites, or mold while avoiding the typical cannabis pests.
If the plant shows both female flowers and male flowers from the beginning of flowering, unfortunately, the best option is to immediately eliminate it from the growing space, as it will probably not only pollinate itself but also the rest of the nearby plants.
When the marijuana plant becomes hermaphrodite in full flowering, we have 2 solutions:
- If the plant really produces few male flowers, you can eventually try to remove them with tweezers, and then monitor each day so that new "plantains" do not appear.
- If the plant produces numerous male flowers, it will have to be removed from the growing space.
Finally, if a plant becomes hermaphrodite at the end of flowering, it should be harvested as soon as possible, before the male flowers have time to shed their pollen. Again, if it is only one or two flowers we can choose to remove them annually and let the plant mature to its optimal point; If you find them in greater numbers, probably the best option will be to harvest now, even if it is a little early to do so.
Have you found seeds in your cannabis harvest?
If you have found seeds in your cannabis buds and you did not have male plants near them, it is because at least one of your plants was hermaphrodite. Male marijuana flowers that were not eliminated shed their pollen onto neighboring female flowers. Unfortunately, once fertilized, the plant concentrates its energy on the production of seeds, instead of using it for the production of new flowers.
Unfortunately, these seeds coming from a hermaphrodite plant will also have a strong tendency towards hermaphroditism, so it is never advisable to use them for the next crop.
We hope that these tips will help you effectively detect hermaphrodite plants and that you can enjoy your seedless marijuana crops!
Happy harvest!