when to sex

[MRB041]

Hello, im a first time grower, i recently put my plants into the flower cycle. My question is how much time do i have to sex the plants before the males start pollinating the females? I think im starting to see the pollen sacks but i dont have the heart to chop em down if im not 100% sure. Im working on getting some pictures up so u guys can help me.

[BlueBear]

in the first 2 weeks you should have a good idea of who go's and who stays to party.
Adieu

[Duke420]

Indeed. males show first, usually 7-10 days. The biggest and fastest growers usually are males.

[Mr. Clandestine]

The biggest and fastest growers usually are males.

Sadly so. I kinda feel sorry for the males, in a way. So much pride is taken in giving them attention and TLC in the beginning ('cause we're all hoping they'll turn out to be big, beautiful females, right?)...but then their balls pop out, and people go at them with contempt, malice, and pruning shears.

[eggrole1]

I don't think males showing first is a hard fast rule, it will depend on the strain more than anything. I know my grow the girls showed several days before the boys.

2 weeks is about average for being able to determine sex though.

[MRB041]

so if im a few days late in getting rid of the males, would they pollenate the females?

Im really worried because i think i only have 1 or 2 females out of 6. I think some turned hermie on me but im not positive

[Dutch Pimp]

My one male white widow didn't show it's sex until one week of 12/12 flowering cycle. But dropped his pollen load; 2 weeks and five days, into 12/12.


He just couldn't hold it ANY longer.....:wtf:

[eggrole1]

You should be able to watch the growth of the pollen sacks. You can even pick them off to delay them, but if you aren't sure of the sex yet, don't chop them down. You have at least a day (more likely a few) to see the growth of pollen sacks (which is unmistakable) before you need to play lumber jack.

[Mr. Clandestine]

The pollen sacks need at least some time to develop and form, and you should definitely be able to discern between a male and a non-male before any pollen gets shed. If you have a really vigorous male, it may drops it's sacks (or "load" :jointsmile:) before the others...but you should still be able to pick them out and cull them before they have a chance to spread pollen all over the place.

[MRB041]

is it possible i could mess up when trying to cut off the pollen sacks and bust the sack and spread the pollen? Im really dissapointed in the fact that i may only have 1 female, and not get nearly as much of a yield as i was hoping.

Im starting to ask myself is it better to get an ounce of good bud off of my one female, or keep the hermies and get 3 or 4 ounces of seeded weed.

[Rusty Trichome]

3 or 4 ounces of terribly seeded weed will yield about 1/2 oz smokable. (rough guess) Tremendous decrease in yield.

You can usually let the males go till you are darned sure they are plenty of male parts showing, but keeping them around while trying to harvest the 6 or 8 bonghits you'll end up with makes it wise to take the shears to him.
Have also had females I put into flower too early show initial balls, but went immediatelly to female the rest of the grow. So now I give 'em an extra few days to repent, but toss 'em before they can do any damage.