A guide on determining the sex of cannabis through seeds...

[ellz]

Greetings GWE community! I wanted to share something I am testing this grow regarding trying to determine the sex of a plant based purely on how the seed looks. I came across a guide that shows how, under ideal conditions, you can determine a male from a female seed. Now, this is not 100% guaranteed because there are many things that can alter the sex after the plant starts growing. However, this is a nice starting point if you want the best luck when trying to grow girls! As I said, I am in the process of testing this theory on my current grow. Using the attached guide, I chose four seeds that look the most like female seeds and planted them. Once they begin to flower, I will let you know if any turned out to be males. Again, I want to stress that this is not a 100% fool-proof system, just a starting point. Thanks for reading, and happy growing!

[alltatup]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8pjptNTff8

Watch this guy's sexing experiment using the same guide: it worked for him.

[dontknownuttin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8pjptNTff8

Watch this guy's sexing experiment using the same guide: it worked for him.

That guy was lucky!

[ellz]

Like I stated from the very start...nothing is 100% certain.

[Weed Pharma]

This has been around for years- never worked for me, so I stopped using it!
If it actually worked, the seed growers would be all over this and not need to breed feminized versions.

[ellz]

LOL...again, I said it was not guaranteed and that I was testing it. Is this where we start just repeating the same things?

[ellz]

So if you guys don't want people to post things they think may be helpful, why have this site?!

[DrPhoton]

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with sharing information, but dont be offended if we provide further information. We are all here to learn.

Unfortunatly sex is predetermined by the male when pollenated, this is how feminized fertilization works. If aspects of the environment changed the sexual outcome of germination, feminized seeds wouldnt have the high success rate like it does.

[ellz]

LOL...okay.

[oldjarhead100]

ellz I thought it was good info something I didnt know and thanks for sharing , I've done an exparament using jorge cerventes bible on page 21 he talks about changing the sex of the plant by outside influinces, well I gave my friend 10 babys and I took ten when they had there 3rd set of leaves I gave mine some N and what else he said would give more females and my buddy didn' do anything he got 2 or 3 females I got 7 , Interesting stuff . I look at posting stuff this way if the info I post helps one newbe then its worth posting

[DrPhoton]

Hermies is a hormonal shift as a last ditch effort for reproduction survival. All female strains are capable to go hermie, some more than others from a genetic influence. However once seeds are developed, their genetic information is already decided. This is akin to people getting pregnent and have already discovered the sex, which doesnt change also.

[ellz]

"In November 1998 we introduced our “Female Cannabis Seed.” We did this after our own experiments showed that from female seed, we acquired almost 100 % female offspring.

In the meantime we are six months further on. We have received a lot of feedback from our customers. The reactions are mostly positive, from clients who have successfully produced almost 100 % female offspring. However there have been reactions from customers who found a few hermaphrodites or males plants. Apparently environmental influences affect the sex of the female seeds as well. Because of the fact that female seeds do not grow into female plants under all circumstances, we changed the name from “Female Cannabis Seeds” to “Feminized Cannabis Seeds.”

From literature and from our own findings it appears that the growth of a male or a female plant from seed, except for the predisposition in the gender chromosomes, also depends on various environmental factors. Not only the origination of entirely male or female plants is partly affected by these environmental factors, the number of male and female flowers on a hermaphrodite plant is affected as well. The environmental factors that influence the sex of the plant (or the flower in the case of hermaphrodites), are, among other things:
the quantity of nitrogen and potassium of the seedbed
humidity and moistness of the seedbed
level of temperatures
color of the light used
length of daylight
Stress, any form of stress, causes more male individuals to originate from seed.
Even the taking of cuttings from female plants may produce male or hermaphrodite cuttings.

To optimize the result, changes in one or more of the above-mentioned environmental factors for a certain period during growth, may be applied. During this time these environmental factors will deviate from the standard growing system for maximum harvest and quality, as described in nursery literature. The desired change(s) in the environmental factor(s) are started from the moment that the seedling has three pairs of real leaves (not counting the seed-lobes). This is the moment that male and/or female predisposition in florescence is being formed. After approximately two weeks the standard growing system can be reconverted to.

Of the five above-mentioned environmental factors the first three are the most practical:
Level of nitrogen and potassium of the seedbed: a heightening of the standard level of nitrogen makes for more female plants originating from the seeds. A lowering of the nitrogen level shows more male plants. A heightening of the level of potassium tends to show more male plants, while a lowering of the potassium level shows more female plants. A combination of a higher nitrogen level for the period of a week or two and a lowering of the potassium level is recommended.
Humidity and moistness of the seedbed: a higher humidity makes for an increase in the number of female plants from seed, a lowering for an increase in male plants. The same is valid for the moistness of the seedbed.
Level of temperatures: lower temperatures make for a larger number of female plants, higher temperatures for more male plants.
Color of the light used: more blue light makes for female plants from seed, more red light makes for more male plants.
Length of daylight: few hours of daylight (e.g., 14 hours) makes for more female individuals, a long day (e.g., 18 hours) makes for more male plants."

http://www.stonerhaven.com/topic/7142-is-it-possable-to-change-the-sex-of-a-plant/?p=206165

[DrPhoton]

Hey ellz, thanks for that information. I have seen it around before.
The article from memory was from a dutch dispensory that were sick of getting complaints about fem seeds. They decided to do a half baked experiment to show how to get less males (actually hermies). Not a real scientific paper or study, controlled or peer reviewed. Not really actual science at all.

As far as scientific studys have showed, sex determination is genotypic, meaning all information is written in the genetic code of the organism. Whether it is male or female is predetermined.

Sexual expression is phenotypic, that means all the traits shown by an organism that can be seen. Whether it appears to be 'male' or 'female' is environmentally dependent. Excluding genetic causes.

Feminized seeds are all female, even when a seed shows phenotypic behavior of male plants, its genetic material is still female. All hermies are still female. All fertilized off spring would be feminized as well.

I do admit my beleif does shake from time to time so discussions like this keeps me on my toes.

[alltatup]

Ok, so I have Jack Herer regular and Black Domina regular, both by Sensi Seeds. I looked at them under the usb microscope, and they all looked like males: they were flat where they came off the stem. And none of them was any rounder than the others; they all had the same shape. I can't provide evidence cuz I didn't take pictures. Jeez, I sure hope they aren't all males!!!!!

[alltatup]

I thought the song was "Growin in the Wind".

[ellz]

LOL...Jack Herer and Black Domina...that combination is Jack Black!

[alltatup]

Actually ellz its Black Jack and I just got some from Seedsman.

[abadtrip]

Hold my beer

[ellz]

LOL...okay.

[abadtrip]

It was meant as a joke mate. Smoke a bowl, drink water and change your socks.

[ellz]

I was laughing at the joke man. You know, like "LOL...sure thing, hand me that beer! I can't guarantee you will get it all back though!"

[ellz]

So like I stated from the start, this is not guaranteed and is only a test. This is the last I will say about it since there are some who already know it won't work...

If you want to try it, try it. If you don't, don't. That simple.

[ellz]

That being said, if you want to make sure you have a female, buy a clone! LOL...that is the only 100% way and even that could change if something goes horribly wrong! I refuse to believe the plants can't change because I have seen too many do it!

[alltatup]

Me too. Until Iam presented with scientific documentation refuting a premise, I will test it.

[ellz]

My dad was the one that told me about it and I was very skeptical. I told him there was no way to tell a male seed from a female seed! Then he showed me this (and a ton of videos) and I was thinking I should try it. Glad I did so far. Looks like I have 4 for 4 female based on the smell and crossed stipules! I will know really soon! That being said, it could still go either way in all honesty!

[dontknownuttin]

I always check my seeds! the fee male seed is the 3d one on the left.

[ellz]

Very mature.
Really.

[oldjarhead100]

I have proved to my self that you can influence the sex of a plant with outside influences and if you doubt it take some bag seed and do your own experament

[DrPhoton]

To some degree, i think you are correct. But what you associate your belief with may be misaligned.
As i have detailed, the sex of a plant is predetermined. This means that the genetic information is embedded prior to germination. This is shown accross many species of plants and backed by several fields of scientific research over the years on reproduction systems.

What people are talking about when associating environment influences on sexual behaviour, is phenotypic expressions. A plants ability to express different sex at the physical layer, regardless of its DNA. Phenotypic expressions are genetic instructions that respond to environment stimuli, this is what makes same strains or clones appear or act different. Even though at the genetic level they may all have the exact same DNA.
With regular cannabis seeds, fertilized female seeds predetermine the genetic sex. Now if phenotype has an effect on the sexual outcome, why would we worry about the genetic aspect of it. Wouldn't the phenotypic behaviour ultimately dictate the result ?. I say no. All any type of environment influence does, is prevent the phenotype behaviour from inducing hermaphrodites. But at the end of the day, genetic expression ultimately determines the amount of females possible. Which seems really damn close to 50:50.

Im not trying to convince anyone of anything, just sharing information like i always do. It was really hard to detail this like i have and even at my best, its not good enough in my opinion to make sense to people. Sometimes you need the right tools to quantify specific data.

[ellz]

Okay so just to close this subject out for now....I used this method for my most recent grow and of the four seeds I chose, 3 were females and 1 was a male. Basically, the system may work but if it does, I am calling it more luck than science. I was skeptical when the information was presented to me that it would be a definite thing and it looks like it's not. Just wanted to share this with others since it's out there and since I tested it, I figured that would help as well.

Again, final result out of 4 seeds using this method: 3 Female, 1 Male.

[D.A.A.S.69]

Are you sure DKN?? Looks like a male to me. hahahaha

[ellz]

Close out on aisle 4?

[D.A.A.S.69]

Is the close - out in the men's or womens?? Just kidding.