The male hemp plant - weed or beneficial insect?

The male cannabis plant is probably rarely seen. In grow shops, only female plants are sold, as the THC and CBD content of a male cannabis plant is significantly lower than that of a female. But this plant has many other unique uses outside of grow shops. We will tell you about these in the second section of our article.

But for many home growers, the male cannabis plant is little more than a weed. You painstakingly nurture a magnificent plant from a seed only to find that you can dispose of it. But how can you tell the difference between a male and female plant and why should you remove male plants as soon as possible if you intend to grow successfully?

The differences between male and female cannabis plants

- Small spherical sacs in the branches → male
- Fine, white, mostly upward standing hairs on the flower tips → female

Hemp is a so-called dioecious species. More precisely, this means that, unlike most plants on the planet, it produces separate male and female plants. Sometimes hermaphrodites are also formed. This happens mainly under difficult environmental conditions such as poor soil conditions. This hermaphroditism ensures that the plant can survive even under these harsh conditions. However, self-pollination over several generations can worsen the health of the plant as there is no mixing of genes.

But now to the two sexes. The male hemp plant produces many fine pollen, which in nature are dispersed by the wind. The sacs that produce the pollen are made up of five yellowish and white petioles that protect the anthers inside. When the plant is fully grown and sexually mature, these open and the swollen sacs release the pollen. The female hemp plants have so-called pistils, which are covered with sticky plant resin. These resinous pistils catch the pollen, then dry and regress. The seeds are formed from the regressed pistils within six weeks.

The sex can be easily distinguished if you know what to look for. Female cannabis plants form white hairs on the flower tips, while male plants form small spherical sacs on the branches. Unless you plan to produce seeds, male and female plants should be separated after the earliest sex determination.

The female (left) and male (right) hemp plant; source: Yuri Che and MarihuanayMedicina

The benefits of the male cannabis plant

- Breeding new hemp varieties
- Textile industry
- Pet food
- Insect repellent
- Juices & teas
- Medicinal poultices
- Cooking & baking

But besides these undesirable consequences for growers, the male cannabis plant can also be very useful. Half of the genes of a female plant that produces flowers are provided by the male plant. Therefore, a genetically suitable male plant must be selected for the production of a new variety. Besides being necessary for the reproduction and survival of the hemp plant, they are used in the textile industry or as animal food, as they comply with the laws in many countries due to their low THC content. For example, cloths such as linen for beds, tablecloths or handkerchiefs are produced from the male plant.

The male hemp plant can also have great benefits in your own garden. It keeps flies and mosquitoes away and tea made from the leaves has the same effect. Poultices made from hemp leaves are anti-inflammatory and reduce bruising. For personal use, the male plant can also be consumed. It contains plenty of phenols and antioxidants. The plants can simply be juiced with the stem and leaves and drunk. The pollen can be used in baking or cooking, but be careful as the fine pollen can easily cover everything in your kitchen. All in all, the male hemp plant is much more useful and interesting than its reputation suggests.

Legality of male hemp plants

Since the male plant has such low THC and CBD levels, many wonder if it is legal to grow it. Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Location Germany: The private cultivation of hemp is generally prohibited. The sex of the plant is completely irrelevant.

Lage Österreich: Cannabispflanzen können hier als “Zierhanf” angepflanzt werden. Jedoch darf man diese nicht blühen lassen. Die Blüte ist illegal, egal um welches Geschlecht der Hanfpflanze es sich handelt.

If you are interested in living out your green thumb, then take a look at the our growshop drop by. In our grow tents your vegetables, herbs or ornamental hemp can grow under optimal conditions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact!