How to Ensure a Male plant without risking a hermie?

[tybeet]

I'm looking to do some seed production after cloning the mother plants some. I was wondering, since I've only been having fem plants, and running out of seeds as it is right now. I can't keep the mother plants forever (and I'm moving the clones outdoors). So I need some seeds for next season. Kinda thinking ahead here.

I want to ensure that one of the next 3 seeds I plant will be a male, how can I do this without risking a hermie.. or does it even matter if I use hermie seeds in the future?

tybeet Reviewed by tybeet on 03-05-2007. How to Ensure a Male plant without risking a hermie? I'm looking to do some seed production after cloning the mother plants some. I was wondering, since I've only been having fem plants, and running out of seeds as it is right now. I can't keep the mother plants forever (and I'm moving the clones outdoors). So I need some seeds for next season. Kinda thinking ahead here. I want to ensure that one of the next 3 seeds I plant will be a male, how can I do this without risking a hermie.. or does it even matter if I use hermie seeds in the future? Rating: 5

[stinkyattic]

Yes, it matters, don't use hermie seeds, eeewwwww.

Chances are you WILL get a male if you plant 3 seeds.

But there are ways to sort of point the babies in the right direction...

The amount of moisture, P to N ratio in the seedbed, warmth, humidity, and light spectrum all play a role in determininge sex.

And then there's a fantastic old wives tale... I've heard it perpetuated here from some VERY reputable sources... I've never tried it myself mind you... but Nature has a way of keeping itself in balance, and the practice of growing multiple plants from seed in one pot is said to virtually GUARANTEE that you will get both sexes in that pot. I don't know why it happens (certainly hormonal, if the myth has any validity, though the chemical paths are a total mystery, lol), but I think at the very least it would be a neat experiment.

lol I'll add it to my 'things to do' list... along with all that laundry...

[tybeet]

awesome. I'll have to try it.. all 3 in one pot.
all eggs in one basket.

[stinkyattic]

Keep us posted... you will have to be super extra careful watering them and training them away from each other so as not to compete fore light. I've done this before when I got a set of twins (2 in one seed, cool) and they grew into healthy adults, both female (remember, they were twins), and flowered acceptably. Remember that they will also get rootbound faster.

[Scarlet Sky]

i tested this with dreamgoddess.

two plants in one pot, both with seemingly female looking preflowers, and the first to show was the largest of the two; female.

two days later the other starts to develope tiny balls.

on the offhand, the male from this experiment hermied, and threw lots of female flowers when i took it out and repotted. weird...

[Chronic Chrissy]

So maybe in order for mother nature to keep the balance, balance must have a reason to be kept. Wonder if the male would have hermied if you left it in that pot?