{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/plant/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_3984-markdown","title":"Importance of Male Cannabis Plants","slug":"importance-of-male-cannabis-plants","content":"In the world of cannabis cultivation, there’s no such thing as gender equality. Female cannabis plants are prized for their [abundant, psychoactive flower](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/how-to-buy-flower), and feminized seeds produce potent, high-yield cannabis crops. Male plants are often simply thrown away. But the male marijuana plant [has plenty to offer](https://infinitecal.com/2020/01/15/male-vs-female-cannabis-why-its-important-to-know-before-you-grow/) in its own right – and it plays a vital if often overlooked, role in breeding the many [cannabis strains](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-indica-sativa-and-hybrid-explained) available today.\n\n![Hello6-min (17).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello6_min_17_3c35ad9930.png)\n\n### What’s the Problem with Males?\nCannabis cultivators want to get the highest return on their investment of resources and time, and [male plants can interfere](https://leafwell.com/blog/the-importance-of-male-cannabis-plants/) with those goals. They take up space and consume water and nutrients without contributing to the harvest, and they can pollinate any female plants in the vicinity, which can derail breeding programs.\n\nLikewise, it’s widely thought that male plants don’t contain significant amounts of highly desirable compounds like [THC](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/thc) and [CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/tag/cbd), so they can’t make much of a contribution to commercial cannabis cultivation. There’s some truth to all of these things, but the [benefits of keeping male plants](https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/male-cannabis-plants-7-things-to-do-with-males/) can considerably outweigh these negatives. \n\n![Hello1-min (45).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello1_min_45_9060570d5a.png)\n\n### Male Plants Keep the Gene Pool Strong\nCannabis Sativa is one of a handful of plant species that are dioecious or have distinct male and female features. Many other plants have both male and female characteristics in the same plant so that they can self-pollinate. Cannabis plants can self-pollinate, too, in a process called feminization. That forces plants to keep the characteristics of a specific female plant through successive generations. But it also eliminates input from the male side of the genetic equation. Over time the lack of new genetic material causes a weakened, inbred gene pool that leaves plants more vulnerable to pests, chemicals, and other environmental threats.\n\nMale plants add variety and vigor to any cannabis strain. Their genetic contribution offers many more characteristics to select for, such as growth rate, hardiness, and the presence and amount of various [cannabinoids](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential) and terpenes. Mixing and matching those features leads to the astonishing variety of cannabis strains available today.\n\n![Hello4-min (34).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello4_min_34_60f574be1a.png)\n\n### Males Can Drive Away Pests\nEven if they aren’t used to pollinate females, male cannabis plants make good “companion” plants for their own and even other plant species. Like their female counterparts, male cannabis plants produce [terpenes](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/what-are-terpenes-and-what-is-their-effect) that are responsible for the [unique scents and flavors](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/what-makes-each-marijuana-strain-unique) of each cannabis strain. Some terpenes, such as limonene and pinene, have strong scents that can repel insects both above and below ground, such as weevils and nematodes. In that way, male cannabis plants can help to protect surrounding plants of all kinds, even crops like cotton, from damage or contamination.  \n\n![Hello7-min (9).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello7_min_9_86c0ead9ad.png)\n\n### Male Plants Enable Seed Production\nAlthough cannabis cultivators prefer their female plants to direct all their energy toward producing flowers, not seeds, those seeds are essential to keeping the various strains alive and moving forward. And the pollen from male plants is needed to produce those seeds, which can be used to plant another crop or sold to amateur and professional growers anywhere in the world.  \n\n![Hello5-min (25).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello5_min_25_a7bea4d1b2.png)\n\n### Males Also Contain Cannabinoids\nIn female plants, [cannabinoids like THC and CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/the-10-cannabinoids-in-cannabis-you-should-know) are concentrated in the flower, but in male plants, they’re concentrated in the leaves. Although female flower contains higher amounts of cannabinoids, that doesn’t mean males are lacking in potency. They contribute half the genetic material for any offspring, so their cannabinoid profile can play a major part in developing the profile of a new strain. For example, crossing a male plant that’s high in CBD with a female that also contains high CBD would create plants with a reliably high concentration of CBD.\n\n![Hello8-min (7).png](https://hellomd-cms.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Hello8_min_7_4574290b2a.png)\n\n### How To Identify a Male Plant\nIn the earliest stages of growth, it’s impossible to distinguish between male and female cannabis plants. But once they’re past the vegetative stage – the period between germination and flowering – you can begin to look for “pre-flowers” on your plants. These early signs of a male plant appear at the nodes, or joints, of maturing plants, especially near the top of the plant. Male plants have small sacs, while female plants have hairs or pistils in the same place. Male plants also typically have fewer leaves and thicker stalks than females.\n\nFemale cannabis plants are valued for their potent flower and rich cannabinoid and terpene content, but those things wouldn’t be possible without male plants. Whether you’re [growing your own cannabis at home](https://www.hellomd.com/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-growing-marijuana-at-home) or a commercial breeder working to develop new strains, males have an essential role to play.\n\n### Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online\nIt's easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online [Telehealth service HelloMD](https://hellomd.com/get-started). Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don't pay unless you're approved!\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1,"src":"/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/ee604/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.png","srcSet":"/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/69585/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.png 200w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/497c6/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.png 400w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/ee604/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.png 800w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/f3583/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.png 1200w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/1ea5b/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.png 1414w","srcWebp":"/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/58556/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/61e93/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.webp 200w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/1f5c5/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.webp 400w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/58556/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.webp 800w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/99238/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.webp 1200w,\n/static/e681317679f502802ba27fa9f2999691/397e9/220e5f1da436c269780d6cb73414772b.webp 1414w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2027-markdown","title":"What Is Kief & Hash?","slug":"what-is-kief-and-hash","content":"\nIf you’ve ever looked closely at a cannabis flower, you may have noticed a series of small, sticky crystals that cover the outside of the plant. These crystals are called kief, and they're the external resin pockets that contain many of the cannabinoid compounds that make marijuana the incredible plant that it is.\n\nHere's what consumers need to know about the origin, purpose, extraction and uses of kief.\n\n### Marijuana's Trichomes: the Building Blocks of Kief\n\nWhile it may not be common knowledge, kief is only one part of a complex system known as a trichome. Trichomes, also known as \"hairs,\" are used by many plants for many purposes. Some carnivorous plants—the Venus flytrap, for example—use trichomes as triggers that allow them to sense when prey is near before trapping and consuming it.\n\nWhen it comes to the marijuana plant, however, trichomes are used for self-defense and self-preservation. The trichomes on the marijuana plant deter predators by producing psychoactive chemicals that disorient them, thus preventing these predators from consuming the entire plant. To further ensure the plant's survival, the smell of the resin produced by the trichomes attracts insects that can pollinate the plant and spread its seeds throughout a given area.\n\n### What Is Kief & How Do You Extract It?\n\nKief is a highly psychoactive cannabis compound with multiple medicinal uses. People who enjoy concentrates but find them cost-prohibitive often use kief to produce similar experiences at a much lower cost.\n\nKief must be processed before it can be consumed. This is because the resin glands of the marijuana plant contain terpenes (aromatic compounds) as well as cannabinoids. The kief crystals must be separated from the rest of the plant material in order to ensure their purity and get them ready for consumption. Fortunately, this process is easy to do at home.\n\nTo extract kief from the rest of the marijuana plant, most consumers use a multi-chamber herb grinder. This setup allows the kief to get sifted through a series of increasingly fine screens, resulting in a powerful and pure product. Some consumers prefer making their own kief-extraction setup by building a set of layered screens to use as homemade sifters.\n\nCannabis consumers should keep in mind, however, that kief generally measures anywhere from 75–125 microns, so it's important to use at least four layers of ultra-fine mesh screens (between 80–270 lines per inch) in order to produce a pure product. Consumers should also know that, unlike other marijuana products, pure kief is generally white. Kief that’s green is likely contaminated by a fair amount of plant matter, so it won’t produce the same strong experience as a pure kief product will.\n\n### Turning Kief From Cannabis Into Hash\n\nOnce extracted, kief can be used for a variety of things. The most popular use of the product, however, is hash. Hash is essentially kief that has undergone a heating and pressurization process before being turned into a pliable ball or brick.\n\nHash is generally more potent than other kinds of marijuana products are. This means consumers can ingest less of it while still enjoying an intense experience. When kief is heated and pressurized, the resin glands within it rupture, causing the kief to undergo changes in color, taste and effects. The more highly pressurized kief is, the darker the subsequent hash becomes.\n\nWhile kief hasn't undergone the same mainstream popularity as other marijuana products, it's still one of the most effective and affordable forms of marijuana in the world, making it a good choice for cannabis consumers everywhere.\n\nPhoto credit: [shadowhound](https://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowhound/4010205069/in/photolist-5mjD1W-4dzrtE-T4mjH-8w1mB-6zFtjn-5HaVvo-9BqWpS-9wD8e1-9eFRTM-dQMDRx-9wA3Qe-9jf7p6-77nmfH-cL4Vu5-89sBfA-815Wz4-7UMiAh-iVx2H7-8Ju86V-55F4XD-iVyNYY-8gFhcB-iVuWRP-eHNpa-8AgybS-6wzF9-b9NfqZ-asP3Ko-as6Lkt-ah1tUy-9Ytwxv)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/tag/cannabis-101/) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/ee604/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.png","srcSet":"/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/69585/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.png 200w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/497c6/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.png 400w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/ee604/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.png 800w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/f3583/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.png 1200w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/b73ad/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.png 1422w","srcWebp":"/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/58556/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/61e93/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.webp 200w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/1f5c5/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.webp 400w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/58556/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.webp 800w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/99238/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.webp 1200w,\n/static/5cba5cf72c9df6b1078abab3e468f681/d060b/1e45af3e98951d5e98a2ddec518bea52.webp 1422w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5639,"name":"Plant","slug":"plant","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}