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    Dealing with ‘Hermie’ Plants: Why Stress Can Lead to Pollen Sacs on Female Cannabis Plants

    The Dude

    Growing cannabis can be a rewarding experience, but when female plants start showing male pollen sacs, it can throw a wrench in even the best-laid plans. Commonly referred to as “hermie” plants, this phenomenon occurs when a female cannabis plant develops male organs, leading to potential pollination issues and a compromised harvest. But why does this happen, and how can you manage it when it does?

    Understanding Pollen Sacs on Female Plants

    Cannabis plants are typically dioecious, meaning they have distinct male and female plants. However, under certain conditions, female plants can develop male pollen sacs. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common culprits is stress.

    Stress can trigger a female cannabis plant to grow pollen sacs in an attempt to reproduce and ensure the survival of its genetics. When this happens, it’s often not a case of a true hermaphrodite but rather a stressed plant responding to its environment.

    Why Stress Leads to “Hermie” Plants

    There are several factors that can stress a cannabis plant, leading to the development of pollen sacs. Here are some of the most common stressors:

    1. Light Stress: Inconsistent light cycles, light leaks during the dark period, or drastic changes in light intensity can all cause a plant to stress out and grow male organs.
    2. Temperature Fluctuations: Extreme changes in temperature, either too hot or too cold, can stress the plant, disrupting its growth and leading to hermaphroditism.
    3. Nutrient Imbalances: Overfeeding or underfeeding your plants can also lead to stress. Ensuring your plants get the right balance of nutrients is key to preventing this.
    4. Genetic Predisposition: Some cannabis strains are more prone to growing pollen sacs than others. For instance, growers have reported issues with certain strains, like Strawberry Banana, being more susceptible to this problem.

    <Insert image depicting cannabis stress factors, like light leaks and temperature changes>

    Dealing with “Hermie” Plants

    If you find that one of your female cannabis plants has developed pollen sacs, the key is not to panic. There are steps you can take to manage the situation:

    1. Isolate the Plant: Move the plant away from your other females to prevent potential pollination. This can save the rest of your crop from becoming seeded.
    2. Inspect and Remove Pollen Sacs: If you’re early in the flowering stage and only a few sacs have appeared, you can carefully remove them. Use sterilized tools, and be gentle to avoid spreading pollen.
    3. Spray with Water: Spraying your plant with water can help contain any pollen that may be released, reducing the risk of pollination.
    4. Consider the Strain’s Genetics: If you’re repeatedly experiencing issues with a particular strain, it might be time to reconsider growing it. Some strains are simply more prone to stress-induced pollen sacs.

    Cannabis Growing Tips for Avoiding “Hermie” Plants

    Preventing “hermie” plants starts with good growing practices. Here are some key tips to keep your cannabis plants healthy and stress-free:

    Final Thoughts

    While dealing with “hermie” plants can be frustrating, understanding why it happens and how to manage it can save your crop. By minimizing stress and choosing the right strains, you can reduce the chances of female plants developing pollen sacs. Keep your growing environment stable, and your cannabis plants will thrive.

    This article was inspired by THECAPN

    Comments

    1. waitwhat Avatar
      waitwhat

      Wish I could’ve warned you about RP. I picked up a pack of their “lucy” and all three of the plants ended up stunted and under performing. They seem to have a real problem with their feminization and pheno selections.

    2. DeanR Avatar
      DeanR

      I think it’s time for a call out on the show about DNA and reserva… the only hermi I’ve ever had came from a pack of their Seeds a few months ago. These guys are just trying to get rich… I met a few of the guys from DNA, they are “hetty”

    3. Koolaid Avatar
      Koolaid

      I will stick with Mr Nice seeds…never, ever had a hermie!

    4. Blackbeard734 Avatar
      Blackbeard734

      I’m asking this question on this thread because I’m not sure if you receive notifications of comments on your older articles or if your just peaking in.

      I found your cloning tutorial from a while back on 420mag and I’m curious if you had any changes to that clone nutrient strategy now that you have recharge in the mix.

      Cloning is the one piece from me scouring all of your posts over the years that you havent covered much. Everything typically starts with rooted clones but i want to make sure I’m following you from the beginning and not getting off to the wrong foot.

    5. THECAPN Avatar
      THECAPN

      I emailed R.P. and they said there is “nothing we can do for you”. Pretty lame, if you ask me. I won’t buy again.

      >>>I found your cloning tutorial from a while back on 420mag and I’m curious >>>any changes to that clone nutrient strategy now that you have recharge in the mix.

      I have used a little recharge for cloning, for normally I don’t use it. The reason is that is has molasses in it.

      That said, I’m still using the same recipe. 100% success every time. Set it and forget it. Maybe it’s time I created a new article here for dude grows. Good luck with your cloning.

    6. Loudbitch Avatar
      Loudbitch

      same shit happen to me just today i find balls under some buds 2.5 week in on og18 and kosher tangie thats fuckt up have 2 other strains whit no problem.

    7. DrBlaze Avatar
      DrBlaze

      Looks like someone could use a bottle of Switch 🙂

    8. Pheno Avatar
      Pheno

      The bigger issue is that the seed company didn’t give you some different seeds or credit. Not a good business practice.

    9. Pazzo Avatar
      Pazzo

      I’ve bought and grown the cheapest seeds out there like Nirvana and KC Brains and I’ve never had any hermies at all. The only hermies I’ve grown from seed were some Chem4D seeds a guy gave me and all of them hermied exactly how yours did so I just tossed them all, wasn’t worth the space and time to me.

      I do have a Purple God Bud that does pop out what I call “Banana Dicks” toward the end of flower so I tend to cut her down at 8 weeks to avoid most of them.. if she wasn’t so naturally dark purple I’d toss her but I want to someday try to cross her with some other strains to try and get that purple trait to follow without the banana dicks, wish I could post a pic of her cause she is such a gorgeous pheno.

      -Pazzo

    10. Max Power Avatar
      Max Power

      Sorry to hear your ladies had balls too. I just found little banana peni (a plural form of penis like cacti) on the ends of my unnamed sativa plant. Only on one of the three ladies. Needless to say it is a sad day in the Strawberry household.

    11. Dohnavin Avatar
      Dohnavin

      I have 8 ww plants one all female feminized seeds one grew nothing but pollen sacs 3 of them won’t go into flowering and one shows signs of both male and female and the other three show nothing but male signs all outside plants I’m not sure why there acting like this or why one grew nothing but pollen sacs also not. Sure what I do about the plants that have both signs

    12. dementedrob

      5

    13. Anonymous

      4.5

    14. Johnny

      5

    15. Obiweedkenobi

      5

    16. Anonymous

      5

    17. Bjbdbz Avatar
      Bjbdbz

      Ive grown some skywalker kush from RP never made it to flower but that was my own fault. Shit reeked like it had flowers on it tho. Always been excited to grab some again but sheesh, the fact that they said that to you is really sad. Those things arent cheap and RP/DNA in general are on the spendy side. Appreciate the post.

    18. chubby nuggz

      5

    19. Anonymous

      2.5

    20. Anonymous

      0.5

    21. Anonymous

      2

    22. Anonymous

      1

    23. Anonymous

      4

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