How to Use Male Cannabis Plants

Cannabis plants are dioecious, meaning they can be male or female. The cannabis community is obsessed with female plants, and for good reason. The female cannabis plants produce large, resinous colas dripping with trichomes. Without a male cannabis plant or male cannabis flowers, the plant would cease to exist. Male cannabis plants provide the pollen that is essential to create new seeds. However, if female plants become pollinated, they will produce seeds, taking away potency and quality from the buds. Therefore, males must be separated as soon as possible.

Male cannabis plants get a bad rap in the garden, but they can be useful. Learn how to spot them and use them effectively. 

Male vs female weed plant

If you want to quickly learn how to tell a female cannabis plant from a male, there are many visual cues to help. Both male and female cannabis plants develop flowers.

Male plants produce sacs that contain pollen—the pollen sacs form at the plant’s node where the leaves meet the stem. When the male flower matures, the sac opens, and the pollen is released into the environment. 

Female plants produce distinct hairs that are collectively known as pistils. The pistils protrude from the female pre-flower. When pollen is released from the male plant, it attaches to the female plant’s pistil, and fertilization occurs. This causes the female plant to produce seeds to carry on future generations of the plant.

Male cannabis plants produce round sac structures that protrude from the plant nodes or where the leaves meet the stem. Male plants are usually taller and have fewer leaf sets as well. Male cannabis plants are taller, with large gaps between leaf sets known as internode spacing. 

What does a male marijuana plant look like?

Male plants:

• Male cannabis plants develop small, ball-like pollen sacs at the nodes where the branches meet the stem. 
• Male cannabis plants do not produce pistils, which are the hair-like structures that develop on their female counterparts.
• Male plants often grow taller and have a more slender structure compared to female plants. 
• Fewer Leaves: Male cannabis plants generally have fewer leaves and less foliage than female plants. 
• Male plants tend to mature earlier than female plants. 
• The overall structure of male plants is usually more spindly and less robust than female plants, which tend to be bushier and more compact.
• Male plants do not produce the large, resinous buds that female plants do. Instead, they focus their energy on producing pollen sacs that form male flowers.
• Thicker Stems: Male plants often have thicker, sturdier stems, which help support their taller height and facilitate pollen distribution.

What does a female marijuana plant look like?

Female Plants:

• Female pre-flowers appear as small, teardrop-shaped calyxes with a pair of white, hair-like structures called pistils protruding from them. 
• Female plants develop buds, which are clusters of calyxes and pistils. 
• Female plants produce high concentrations of cannabinoids like THC and CBD. 
• Female cannabis plants produce trichomes in abundance.
• Unlike male plants, female plants do not produce pollen sacs. Hermaphroditic plants can show both male and female characteristics, producing both pistils and pollen sacs.
• Female plants often exhibit more robust and bushy branching patterns compared to males.
• Female plants have stronger flavors and aromas.

8 Male Cannabis Plant Uses

While male cannabis plants may not always be welcome in a cannabis garden, they can still be quite useful. Here are just a few of the ways.

Breeding Programs –  When male cannabis plant pollen fertilizes female cannabis flowers, seed formation begins. Feminized seed can only be created when a female plant pollinates itself. For growers and breeders hoping to create the next big strain, male plants are crucial.

Pollen Collection – Male cannabis pollen can be collected and stored for long periods for future breeding projects and plant preservation.

Hemp Fiber Biomass – The large stalks from male cannabis plants are ideal for creating hemp fiber. Hemp fiber is used for textiles and other manufactured products.

Animal Bedding and Animal Feed – When the large stalks from male plants are ground up, they make excellent bedding for animal stalls. Cannabis flowers and cannabis seeds may also be good feed, something the Food and Drug Administration is currently debating.

Seeds for consumption – Cannabis seeds are a complete protein and have many essential amino acids. Hemp seed is often used in acai bowls or other nutritious breakfast foods.

Plant matter for consumption – Juicing cannabis leaves is becoming increasingly popular for its potential health benefits. The leaves are rich in Vitamin A and other antioxidants. 

Cannabis roots as medicine – Cannabis roots possess anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, helpful for conditions like arthritis. Despite their historical applications, modern scientific research on cannabis roots remains limited, necessitating further studies to fully understand and validate their potential benefits.

Phytoremediation – Cannabis is an accumulator plant. This means plants are capable of pulling every nutrient from the soil, including contaminants. These contaminants are stored in the leaves of the plant. Plant material can be removed from the field, and the contaminants may be removed from the soil.

FAQ

How soon can you tell if a cannabis plant is male?

Within one to two weeks after the transition to flower growth. Male plants typically show signs of their gender before female plants. Cannabis cultivators should check plants early and often.

How much are male cannabis plants worth?

It depends on the grower or breeder. Male pollen can be extremely valuable for breeding and creating new and original cultivars. 

Do male weed plants ruin female plants?

No. Male pot plants pollinate female plants, and seeds are produced. Even when a female plant is pollinated, it produces flowers and trichomes. However, the resin production may diminish, and the buds will likely lose potency.

How far can male plants pollinate?

Miles. The pollen a male plant creates can be carried by the wind for long stretches. Pollen can easily affect an entire field or more.

Can male plants make flowers?

Yes. Both male and female plants produce calyxes, which form the flower-like structures. Female flowers hold reproductive organs that are capable of producing cannabis seeds.

Photos courtesy of Kandid Kush