Male cannabis plants

The first thing you’ve probably learned as a marijuana grower is how to identify and discard male cannabis plants to prevent them from ‘accidentally’ pollinating your precious female plants. But did you know that male cannabis plants can be just as useful as their female counterparts? In this article, we will show you how you can use these male plants!

How to recognise a male plant

The sex of the plant can be first determined when the male plant is about 3 to 4 weeks old and the female plant is 4 to 6 weeks old. This is when the marijuana plant begins to develop pre-spring flowers. marijuana pre-flowers are small versions of the adult flowers that appear relatively early in the growing season on cannabis plants and can help determine the sex of the plant before the flowering phase begins. Male pre-flowers look like ‘spades’ in a pack of cards. If you also notice many pollen sacs and no white pistils, you are dealing with a male plant. Sometimes the pollen sacs may not be very visible in the early stages of growth, but when you notice several hairless anthers stacked on top of each other like a bunch, then you know for sure that you are dealing with a male plant. On the other hand, female precursors usually have a thick base and are usually longer and narrower than their male counterparts. They may also have 1-2 tufts of white hairs protruding from the top. Once you have determined the sex of the plants, remember to separate the male and female plants unless you plan to propagate them!

Now that we know how to identify male cannabis plants, how can we use them?

Breeding new varieties

Once you have spent time growing varieties just for consumption, you can start looking to develop your own varieties with desirable traits – for example, varieties that are more resinous, produce higher yields or provide faster turnover. For this you need males! Don’t forget that males account for up to 50% of the genetic make-up of seeds. So choose only the best males with the best traits in your garden to breed new varieties. Are some of them stronger? Maybe some are highly resistant to fungi and pests? Use the males to pass on these desirable traits to future generations.

Use for THC concentrates

It is also a good idea to use male to produce THC-rich concentrates such as cannabutter. Although male plants are less potent than female plants, they still contain some THC and are therefore psychoactive. Although male marijuana plants do not produce varietly, small amounts of cannabinoids can be found in the varietly, leaves and stems of the plant. In fact, male plants have higher concentrations of THC in their leaves during vegetative growth than female plants. Just as you use the residual sugar leaves from female plants, you can use male plants for the same purpose! Male plants will have the most resin concentrated in the calyx leaves and other areas where pollen is produced. Don’t throw away all that goodness – make hash, cannabutter or other concentrates using these THC-rich parts!

Make juice or tea

Although in lower concentrations, the male plant contains the same cannabinoids as the female. This makes it optimal for the production of THCA drinks – for example, teas and juices. Cannabinoids such as CBDA and THCA in cannabis juice benefit the human body in the same way as other forms of marijuana.

Cannabis juice provides a better way to use cannabinoids without worrying about adverse side effects or getting high. Just don't use larger leaves and thicker stems to avoid the bitter taste of the plant.

Use it in a normal garden

Like female plants, male plants produce terpenes – aromatic oils that give cannabis its unique and delicious smell and taste. These terpenes are associated with protection against pests and diseases, so you can include male marijuana plants in your flower or vegetable garden. You can also use the dried parts of the male plant to create a terpene-rich oil and use it to repel insects and pests. Just ensure that your flower garden (with male cannabis plants) is well separated from any female cannabis plants to avoid cross-pollination.

Produce cannabis fibre

Both male and female cannabis plants can produce fibres. However, there is a significant difference in the type of fibres that both plants can produce. These fibres are usually used for different purposes. For example, male fibres have tough and fibrous stems that can be used to produce softer material. Their fibers are also softer and thinner compared to the fibers produced by female plants. These characteristics make them desirable for the production of household items such as high-quality fabrics like towels or bed linen.