aeviaanah
Well-Known Member
Hows it going everyone? It has been about 6 weeks since these plants have sprouted and I thought I would share how I determine sex at an early stage. The first signs we look for when determining plant sex usually emerge between day 35 and 45 from seed sprout. This is an estimate and can change with different variables including strain.
One observation I have noticed is males typically show sex before females. When determining sex I usually look at the second or third node down (from the top) as they are easiest to see without emerging leafs getting in the way. Male staminates look like little balls and at early stages can easily be confused with an emerging female calyx. Staminate flowers are located at the node between the stipule and emerging branch. Here is an image showing an emerging male staminate.
[Early signs of male staminates- As you can see the male organ holds more of a round shape]
Through time the balls will begin to multiply and stack, you will end up with something like this:
[Late signs of male flowers just before they have opened, releasing pollen]
A calyx is the pear-shaped sex organ produced by the female plant and resides at the base of the pistils. Often females will produce calyx's before the pistils emerge, these calyx's can be mistaken for male staminates if not given enough time to develop. It is not until pistils emerge from calyx when we will be able to fully determine that plant is in fact female. Here is an image showing pistils emerging between stipule and an emerging branch.
[Early signs of female pistillate with pear-shaped calyx]
As you can see the females pistils resemble golden/yellow hairs and at times can even be pink. More and more pistils will begin to show and in a few weeks given the proper photo-period will resemble this.
[Female around week 2 of 12/12 showing many pistils.]
I hope this helps a few people determine sex at an early stage. It is always safer to wait another few days to be sure of sex. You will have plenty of time before male flowers open and pollinate your crop. Males will not pollinate until the flowers have opened fully, thus releasing pollen. Please feel free to correct me if there is any wrong information posted. Also, let me know if you feel something important has been left out or has stated vaguely. Take care!
One observation I have noticed is males typically show sex before females. When determining sex I usually look at the second or third node down (from the top) as they are easiest to see without emerging leafs getting in the way. Male staminates look like little balls and at early stages can easily be confused with an emerging female calyx. Staminate flowers are located at the node between the stipule and emerging branch. Here is an image showing an emerging male staminate.
Through time the balls will begin to multiply and stack, you will end up with something like this:
[Late signs of male flowers just before they have opened, releasing pollen]
A calyx is the pear-shaped sex organ produced by the female plant and resides at the base of the pistils. Often females will produce calyx's before the pistils emerge, these calyx's can be mistaken for male staminates if not given enough time to develop. It is not until pistils emerge from calyx when we will be able to fully determine that plant is in fact female. Here is an image showing pistils emerging between stipule and an emerging branch.
[Early signs of female pistillate with pear-shaped calyx]
As you can see the females pistils resemble golden/yellow hairs and at times can even be pink. More and more pistils will begin to show and in a few weeks given the proper photo-period will resemble this.
[Female around week 2 of 12/12 showing many pistils.]
I hope this helps a few people determine sex at an early stage. It is always safer to wait another few days to be sure of sex. You will have plenty of time before male flowers open and pollinate your crop. Males will not pollinate until the flowers have opened fully, thus releasing pollen. Please feel free to correct me if there is any wrong information posted. Also, let me know if you feel something important has been left out or has stated vaguely. Take care!
