{"id":1348,"date":"2020-06-10T23:35:56","date_gmt":"2020-06-10T23:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/cbd\/herming-how-female-plants-turn-male"},"modified":"2026-02-22T15:08:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T15:08:30","slug":"herming-female-plants-turn-male","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/the-plant\/herming-female-plants-turn-male","title":{"rendered":"Herming: How female plants turn male"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cannabis plants are dioecious, meaning they can be either male or female. Female plants are particularly prized since they form buds rich in psychoactive cannabinoids. For most growers, maintaining a crop free of male plants is critical to ensure that those female buds are not pollinated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all plants, however, cannabis has an inherent drive to procreate by propagating seeds. One way it achieves this is by herming \u2014 when female plants become hermaphroditic to self-pollinate. <\/span>Learn how to tell female and male cannabis plants apart, how you can prevent herming, and what to look out for if you're new to growing cannabis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhat is herming and why does it happen?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A hermaphroditic plant contains both female and male sex organs, and the tendency for cannabis plants to herm means that growers must take extra care to minimize any stressors that may cause the plant to perceive a threat and change its sex<\/span>. According to Bruce Perlowin, CEO of\u00a0Hemp, Inc.<\/a>, \"Stress is the fundamental cause of hermaphroditic plants, or 'hermies.'<\/span> Some examples of stressors are not enough water, too much water, not enough nutrients, or too much heat. It can happen at any time in the life cycle of a plant from a new plant to a very mature one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Closeup\n\t\t\t<\/a>Photo by: Gina Coleman\/Weedmaps<\/cite>
Female cannabis plants can herm at any time during the growth cycle. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t\t