08-06-2002, 07:08 PM
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Here's a method to sex your plants that works well, saves time, and is no bother. It's been used by many of the larger grow ops in Europe for a long time. You can end the messy, time-consuming and and sometimes failure-prone cloning process once and for all. Plus, it's low stress on you plants, since you won't have to cut off any part of your plants. All you need is a good magnifier, like the portable 'microscope' Radio Shack sells, a jeweler's loupe, or strong magnifying glass. When your plants are about five weeks old (give or take, depending on strain, growing conditions, etc.), it will begin to show it's sex by sprouting preflowers. These preflowers will eventually turn into full-blown male or female flowers, but when they first appear, they are tiny. That's why you need the magnifier. So, now your plants are about five weeks old. Look carefully between the stalk and petiole. You'll first notice two rather long and slightly hairy pointed growths. These are called stipules. (It's interesting to note that not all plant species have these growths; and their purpose is not well understood, but they seem to have nothing to do with the flowering.) Here's what you're looking for: Male: Between the stipule and the petiole, you will see tiny, greenish, and slightly hairy ball-shaped growths. These are called staminate primordia. They tend to be rounder than their female counterpart, but still a little pointed at the top ends. Often these are raised up on little stems. Female: Again, between the stipule and the petiole, you will see tiny and more pointed egg-shaped growths called pistillate primordia. These are seldom on the tiny stems as are the male's, and usually just sit right on the surface of the petiole/stalk. From the tips of these grow whitish-grey pistils, covered with very fine hairs. These are intended to help trap the male's pollen, and fertilize the female into producing seeds. Pistils are the key - if you see them, you've got a girl. Some things to watch: Don't try and sex your plants too early, in other words, it may take a little time (only a matter of days) before the pistils shoot from the calyx. Before the pistils show, the male and the female primodia look very nearly identical. Second, be careful for hermaphrodites ('hermies'). Like any method of sexing your plants, you need to be aware that your plant can (although it's unlikely) also show the traits of the opposite sex as it grows. So if you're plant is showing any signs of staminate primordia, and you're not planning on breeding, the best thing to do is head to the "Making Oil" threads. On the other hand, if you've got a female, just watch and check her from time to time to be sure she doesn't go sideways on you as she's growing, possibly ruining your crop of sinsemilla. | ||
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08-06-2002, 07:34 PM
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| Banned Troll Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Under a Bridge
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That is a very nice post.. Will help ALOT of people.Including me..  Happy Growing!!! | ||
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| The Following User Says Thank You to dcca For This Useful Post: | red-bull (01-02-2009) |
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08-06-2002, 08:12 PM
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| Seedling  Join Date: Jul 2002
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| New growers might want to notice that you have to change light cycle to 12/12 for this to work.
__________________ I'm the only one in the car that doesn't complain when we smell a skunk... My Grow Journal Strain Base-Sexing: closeup of pre-flowers-Plant Abuse Chart Micro pics of Trichomes | ||
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| The Following User Says Thank You to nitrous For This Useful Post: | red-bull (01-06-2009) |
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08-07-2002, 02:50 AM
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Excellent diagram and explanations José!  Some strains show more obvious preflowers than others. I've had some with nothing noticeable until after the start of 12/12, and others that showed obvious sex four weeks from seed. It seems like I've had more preflower during vegging since I switched from 24/0 to 18/6. But regardless of when they show, that diagram is very accurate and helpful! ::::::applying glue:::::: | ||
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08-07-2002, 03:29 AM
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| Grand Master Gardener   Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Outside under the gorgeous sun near Latitude 24ºN
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| Thanks José !! Excellent post, and great graphics. Any hints for helping folks tell the preflowers from the new leaf growth while it is still classed as indeterminate primordia?? I remember looking through a magnifyer for hours on that first crop, only to have my "preflowers" turn into branches!! Another point- I was told by Shantibaba (breeder at Mr. Nice) that preflowers were not 100% reliable on my Neville's Haze. His exact words: Quote:
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08-07-2002, 08:40 AM
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| thanks brindie, 3hounds  the 24/0 lighting is a real interesting point. i wonder, since that schedule is so un-natural, if it actually stresses the plants? i personally have switched back to 18/6 for vegging, only because it seems closer to what mother nature intended... "Any hints for helping folks tell the preflowers from the new leaf growth while it is still classed as indeterminate primordia??" well, ahem...yes, if i read you right, the whole process of sexing using preflowers can be a little tricky...and it certainly does take a bit of practice. that being said, once you get used to what you're looking at (and that's where a good quality magnifier helps), it becomes much easier to know what you're looking at. practice and patience, | ||
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08-07-2002, 09:18 AM
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| Grand Master Gardener Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Outside under the gorgeous sun near Latitude 24ºN
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| A- $95 at geriatric vision center 3x lighted, great but $$$ B- $15.95 Ebay 30x not lighted C- $5.95 Ebay 10x not lighted D- $6.95 Radio Shack 60-100x lighted teeny tiny field E- $5.95 Radio Shack 2x w/5x center lighted F- $6.95 Hobby Store 3x not lighted G- $6.95 Radio Shack 3x lighted While some of these are much better than others, I am not 100% happy with any of them. Suggestions?? Or I'm just a particular sob  | ||
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| The Following User Says Thank You to 3hounds For This Useful Post: | red-bull (01-02-2009) |
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08-08-2002, 01:11 PM
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| hey 3hounds,,,that's sure a mighty fine lookin' collection of magnifiers you've got there i prefer the B type - my favorite is one of those, a 10X. it was about $15 in a jeweler's supply store...it seems if you go too high in magnification, the depth of field gets so short it becomes real tedious to work with...plus some of them are so big, they're hard to maneuver around in the canopy without breaking some part of the plant off... but hey, those big magnifiers are sure fun to play with the ants crawling across the patio on a sunny day... | ||
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08-08-2002, 03:20 PM
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| JoséHempSeed, I had no idea of them showing sex at 5 weeks while under 24/7. I've heard of so many people saying that you have to flower them first, I'm glad this is being cleared up (for me at least). Perfect timing too, I just started flowering my plants at 5 weeks.
__________________ I'm the only one in the car that doesn't complain when we smell a skunk... My Grow Journal Strain Base-Sexing: closeup of pre-flowers-Plant Abuse Chart Micro pics of Trichomes | ||
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