What are hermaphrodites

Hermaphroditism in cannabis plants is a condition in which a single plant exhibits both male and female sexual characteristics. Under normal conditions, cannabis is divided into male and female plants, and only the female plants produce buds that are valuable to growers. The male plants are mostly discarded so that they do not pollinate the female plants and reduce the quality of the crop. However, sometimes a plant will develop both types of sexual organs at the same time - this is hermaphroditism.

Hermaphroditism can occur in all types of cannabis, including autoflowering, sativa, indica, and even feminized varieties. Hermaphroditism is often a plant's defensive response to stressful or unfavorable environmental conditions. For example, a sudden change in light or temperature, irregular watering, nutrient deficiencies, or injury to the plant can cause it to produce both male and female flowers.

Genetics also plays an important role in the tendency of plants to hermaphroditize. Some species, especially wild or hybrid species, may have a higher predisposition to this phenomenon. Sativa varieties tend to be more sensitive to changes in the environment, making them more susceptible to hermaphroditism compared to indices, which have more stable genetics and are resistant to stress. Autoflowering varieties can also become hermaphroditic, but because they move quickly into the flowering phase, the risk may be somewhat lower, especially if they are provided with stable conditions.

Feminized cannabis varieties are created to produce exclusively female plants, but under stressful conditions, even these plants can become hermaphroditic. This occurs when a plant that is genetically programmed to be female becomes so stressed that it begins to produce male flowers in an attempt to self-pollinate and ensure the continuation of the species.

Examples of hermaphrodites

Hermaphroditism can manifest itself in many different ways, and cannabis plants can show partial or complete hermaphroditism. Partial hermaphroditism is when a plant only has a few male flowers on a female plant, whereas in full hermaphroditism, a single plant develops both male and female flower structures in significant numbers.

Autoflowering varieties

Autoflowering cannabis varieties were created by crossing cannabis with ruderalis, a resistant species that moves to the flowering phase on its own regardless of changes in the light cycle. Because of this stability, autoflowering varieties are less prone to hermaphroditism, especially if grown in stable conditions. However, if an autoflowering variety is subjected to severe stress, such as a sudden change in temperature or root damage, the plant may begin to produce small male flowers among the female flowers to protect itself and reproduce.

Sativa varieties

Sativa varieties native to areas with warm climates and long light periods tend to be more sensitive to stressors. In particular, sativas can easily exhibit hermaphroditism when exposed to sudden changes in light or nutrient deficiencies. For example, if a sativa is grown indoors and the light cycle is accidentally disrupted, this can trigger the appearance of male flowers on a female plant. This happens because the sensitive genetics of sativas make them prone to responding to the slightest environmental changes, which promotes hermaphroditism.

Indica

Indica, unlike sativa, has more robust genetics that make it less susceptible to environmental changes. Native to regions with harsh climates such as the Himalayas, indica has learned to adapt to difficult conditions. This makes indica more resistant to hermaphroditism, but in rare cases, under extreme stressors such as prolonged absence of light or significant temperature fluctuations, even indica can show hermaphroditic traits.

Feminized varieties

Feminized cannabis varieties are created to grow only female plants that do not produce male flowers. However, even feminized plants can exhibit hermaphroditism, especially if the grower allows stressful conditions such as improper lighting or nutrient deficiencies. Since feminized plants are genetically modified to be female, any disturbance in their growing conditions can cause them to produce a small number of male flowers. This is a defense mechanism that helps the plant to self-pollinate.

Prevention methods

Preventing hermaphroditism in cannabis requires careful attention and a stable environment. Hermaphroditism occurs when the plant is under severe stress, so the main goal is to minimize any factors that may cause stress. Depending on the type of plant, whether autoflowering, sativa, indica, or feminized varieties, the approach to prevention may vary slightly.

Maintaining stable lighting

Lighting is one of the key factors affecting the health of a plant. It is especially important to maintain a stable light cycle for photoperiod varieties such as sativa and indica. Changes in the light schedule can cause a “disruption” in flowering, which increases the risk of male flowers on female plants. For autoflowering varieties, the light cycle is not as critical, as they enter the flowering phase regardless of daylight hours. However, even for them it is important to avoid sudden changes in light, as this can also cause stress.

Temperature and humidity control

Temperature fluctuations and high humidity levels can stress the plant and lead to hermaphroditism. Cannabis plants do best at stable temperatures between 20 to 26°C during the day and 18 to 22°C at night. Abrupt temperature fluctuations can lead to stress, especially in feminized varieties, which are more susceptible to hermaphroditism under stressful conditions. Sativa varieties usually prefer a slightly warmer environment, while indica can cope better with small drops in temperature.

Prevent physical damage

Damage to the plant is another factor that can trigger hermaphroditism. Physical damage to roots or stems caused by transplanting, pruning, or mishandling can stress the plant. This is especially true for feminized and sativa varieties, which are more sensitive to physical interference. Autoflowering varieties may also be sensitive to physical stress because their life cycle is shorter and they have less time to recover.

Proper nutrition and fertilization

Providing the plant with the right nutrients in the right proportions will help it grow healthy and strong. A deficiency or excess of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, can lead to stress and increases the risk of hermaphroditism. To prevent this, it is important to follow fertilizer dosage recommendations for different growth stages. For example, sativa requires slightly less nitrogen at the flowering stage, while indica may adapt better to standard fertilizer doses. Feminized varieties are also sensitive to nutrient imbalances, so it's important to follow a precise feeding schedule.

Avoiding overripe plants

Overripe female plants can cause them to produce male flowers in an attempt to self-pollinate and create seeds before completing their life cycle. To avoid this, it is important to harvest on time and not allow the plant to bloom for too long. This is especially important for autoflowering varieties, which have a short life cycle and a delay in harvesting can lead to the development of male flowers.