The Virginia medical marijuana program continues to flourish as even more patients register for their card. In the state of Virginia, patients can also register to grow medical marijuana from the comfort of their own home.
Whether you have a green thumb or just want to save some money, home cultivation is a great option to consider. But before you dive in, here is some information about growing your own supply.
Gender and Weed Plants
If you are new to cannabis, you may not be aware of the importance of a weed plant’s gender. We should start by saying that there is a huge difference between a female and male weed plant.
Male weed plants are known to cause problems for cultivators. First of all, they do not produce cannabis in any consumable form. Also, they may lower your yield from your female plants, taking resources from them as well.
Basically, if you are growing your own plants, you want to purchase female-only seeds and plants. But male plants aren’t useless, so if you accidentally purchase one, don't worry.
Identifying Male Weed Plants
Male plants usually look different than female plants. They will have much thicker stalks and fewer leaves. They tend to grow taller, because they develop faster than female plants. However, sativa and indica plants can also look different.
Here are some useful tips on how to identify male vs female weed plants:
Check the joints of the stem. All weed plants develop pre-flowers - Female plant pre-flowers have white hairs, and male pre-flowers have bulbs.
If the plant is tall with thick stalks and fewer leaves, it is probably male.
Female plants have more leaves, thinner stalks, and tend to be bushier.
Pre-flowers develop within 1-4 weeks, depending on the gender of the plant. So, keep an eye out for them when you begin your cultivation process. Although male weed plants grow pre-flowers, they will not grow buds. Therefore, they do not have high concentrations of THC or CBD.
It is very important to separate male and female weed plants, as the male plants can severely interfere with the growth and THC content of your female plants.
Uses for the Male Weed Plant
Although male weed plants might seem like a new grower’s worst nightmare, they still have some uses and benefits! For example, they can assist with pest control and disease prevention.
Male weed plants do not have as much THC or CBD as female plants will, but they still offer some other cannabinoids and terpenes.
Male plants actually have more cannabinoids in their leaves than they do in their flowers, so you can use the leaves of your male plant to make THC and CBD concentrates. Maybe it won’t be as effective as a concentrate from a female plant, but it can still aid in pain relief.
Male plants can also be harvested for hemp fibers, which can be used in many different cases.
Start the Process Today!
The first step to starting your own cultivation process is getting your medical marijuana card. If you don’t already have yours, we can help with that!
Schedule an evaluation online today and we’ll make an appointment for you with one of our knowledgeable, compassionate doctors.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Virginia Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness
safely and conveniently through increased access to MMJ. Our focus on
education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by
providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (888) 633-5808, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Virginia!
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