GROWING

Male vs. Female Cannabis Plants: Can a Male Turn Female, and What Are Males Good For?

Males make pollen, females make buds, and no trick will flip one into the other. But the boys still have their uses.

BY CosechaLibre Editorial5 MIN READ

What can you do with a male cannabis plant?

Male cannabis plants make pollen, female plants make the buds, and no trick will turn a male into a female: a plant's sex is set by its genetics. Because a male's pollen fills nearby female flowers with seeds, and seeded buds come out smaller and less potent, most growers pull males as soon as they spot them. Still, males are useful for breeding, hemp fiber, juicing and as pest-repelling companion plants in the garden.

So the main use for a male cannabis plant is breeding. You need a male to pollinate a female so she forms seeds you can grow later. Most growers want females for their flowers, so they usually go with feminized seeds to avoid males altogether.

But male cannabis plants are good for more than pollen. Even though many growers want them nowhere near their grow for the reasons above, males have plenty of uses and qualities most people don't know about.

Male cannabis plant with pollen sacs

Use male plants for hemp fiber

Compared to females, male plants have a softer build, which makes them an ideal source of hemp fiber you can repurpose for textiles like clothing or fabric. Legend has it that the sails on Christopher Columbus's ships were made of hemp. True or not, it's a good story.

In the cannabis world, males can cook too

Male and female plants share the same acid profile and the same benefits: both are packed with antioxidants and phenols. Juicing the leaves of a male plant gives you a green drink that some people swear by, and the body tends to respond well to dark-green and raw foods. Every part of the plant can go through the juicer except the thick stalks and heavy branches. You can also use the male's pollen to make butter and oils for cannabis recipes.

Want a healthier garden? Plant a male

Both male and female cannabis plants produce aromatic compounds called terpenes, which act as natural pest repellents and may help ward off plant diseases. Instead of trashing the males from your grow room, you can move them outside and plant them in your garden.

The terpenes in male plants give off a scent that can protect nearby plants by deterring the critters that want to eat them, and they show real potential for insect control. Cannabis plants also have strong taproots that push their way through the soil and can loosen up poor-quality dirt. Breaking up garden soil lets air in and improves drainage.

Real talk: if you're growing for beautiful buds and you're scared a male will pollinate your crop, pull it. But these alternatives are a good way to avoid killing off those beautiful male plants that have so much to offer.

Male cannabis plant in flower

Can you turn a male cannabis plant into a female?

No, you can't turn a male cannabis plant into a female. A cannabis plant's sex is set naturally by its genetics. Cannabis plants can be male, female or hermaphrodite. Males produce male flowers that release pollen, while females produce the female flowers that become buds.

To figure out a plant's sex, you have to look at its flowers. Females develop white, hairy pistils, while males grow flowers that look like little balls of pollen. If you're after seedless buds, identify and remove males as early as possible.

If you want to make seeds, you can cross a male with a female to get offspring. That said, it takes some knowledge of cannabis breeding techniques.

Keep in mind that cannabis genetics and selective breeding are complex and take real experience and know-how. Your best bet is to get seeds from trusted breeders or clones from reliable sources to make sure your grow is consistent and high quality.

What's the difference between male and female cannabis plants?

The fundamental difference between male and female cannabis plants comes down to their flowers. Males develop male flowers that produce pollen, while females develop the female flowers that become buds.

Male flowers look like small balls or pollen sacs that release pollen when they mature. Female flowers, on the other hand, have white, hairy pistils that catch the pollen for fertilization.

The main practical difference in a grow is that male plants don't produce quality buds for smoking. Their main job is releasing pollen to fertilize female flowers and make seeds. So in a grow meant for seedless buds, it's important to identify and remove males to avoid unwanted pollination.

It's worth pointing out that some cannabis plants can be hermaphrodites, meaning they carry flowers of both sexes. These plants are more likely to self-pollinate and produce seeds. In a typical grow, females are the goal, and males and hermies get pulled to keep the buds high quality and seed-free.