When a grower comes across a male flower on a cannabis plant, the scenario changes rapidly. According to the El Planteo website, these are structures resembling pollen sacs that emerge on flowers or stems that should produce female flowers.
This occurrence raises an alarm because it can compromise the entire crop, leading to unwanted fertilization and reducing both the quality and potency of the expected yield.

What Exactly Is a Male Flower and Why Does It Appear

In most cases, cannabis plants are distinguishable between female (geared towards producing cannabinoid-rich flowers) and male (geared towards pollen). 

Furthermore, as per the El Planteo website, these small, elongated yellow structures usually appear on flowers, and in some cases, even a female plant can develop them. This occurs, experts explain, when there is hermaphroditism or some type of stress that causes the plant to produce the so-called male flower.

Several causes are pointed out: irregular light schedules, extreme temperatures, nutritional deficiencies, vulnerable genetics.
When this happens, the grower observes that the female plant, instead of producing resin-rich flowers, starts to generate flowers with pollen, resulting in seeds instead of potency.

How to Handle and Prevent the Male Flower from Compromising Your Harvest

Good news: there are practical measures that can help prevent or mitigate the appearance of the male flower. In the El Planteo guide, for example, suggestions such as choosing quality genetics, maintaining a stable cultivation environment (lighting, temperature, nutrients), and monitoring signs from an early stage are recommended.

If the male flower appears, it is advisable to isolate or remove the affected plant to prevent pollen from spreading. This way, the other female plants are protected to remain free from unwanted fertilization. This action helps ensure a purer harvest, as often sought by those who cultivate for therapeutic or high-standard purposes.

With information from El.Planteo.