Identifying male and female hemp plants is essential for any grower who wants to make the most of their harvest. Male plants don't produce buds, while female plants do, so it's important to be able to tell them apart. After six weeks of development, males will develop “pollen sacs”, while females will have growths that resemble thin tufts of hair. Other clear physical characteristics will help you differentiate between male and female hemp plants at any time.
Female preflowers look like a pair of white, V-shaped hairs that form in the calyx to form the pistil, which will then form clusters to create female flowers or female buds. Male cannabis plants with particularly high cannabinoid concentrations in their leaves combined with strong roots can become key parts of a breeding program. Growing male and female cannabis plants together is not a good idea if you plan to harvest buds. However, breeders and manufacturers of cannabis-derived products rely on male cannabis plants to pollinate female plants by crossing genetics to create new varieties (such as Indica or Sativa).
Maybe someone in your neighborhood or area has a male or hermie plant and that pollen has made its way to your female plant. Both male and hermaphrodite plants produce pollen sacs that open within a few weeks and begin to pollinate females and hermias as well. Thick, hard hemp material derived from female cannabis plants is also useful for making ropes and other products that require a strong fiber. Knowing how to identify male and female hemp plants is essential for any grower who wants to make the most of their harvest. With the right knowledge, you can ensure that your crop is free from male pollen and maximize your yield.
