Hermie plants are a common problem for indoor growers, especially those who are new to the game.
Summary
Hermie plants are simply cannabis plants that have started to grow male flowers instead of female buds.
This can happen for a number of reasons, but usually, it’s due to stress. While hermie plants won’t necessarily ruin your entire crop, they will produce lower-quality buds and can pollinate your female plants, leading to seedy weeds.
So, it’s best to avoid them if you can. In this blog post, we will explore the early signs of a hermie plant so that you can nip the problem in the bud (pun intended).
With just a little bit of knowledge, you can save yourself a lot of headache (and heartache) down the road.
What Triggers a Plant to Hermie?
There are a number of factors that can trigger a plant to hermie. These include:
- Stress: Plants can hermie when they experience stress from factors like lack of water, excessive heat or cold, nutrient deficiencies, or too much light or darkness.
- Genetics: Some plants are simply more prone to hermies than others due to their genetic makeup.
- Age: Older plants are more likely to hermie than younger ones.
Once a plant has started to hermie, there is no turning back. The best course of action is to remove the affected plant from your grow room and destroy it.
Irregular Lightning Routines
If you notice your plant’s leaves are pointier than usual, it could be a hermie. Another early sign of a hermie is when the plant begins to produce flowers in odd places, like on the stem or leaves. Finally, if the plant’s growth slows or stops altogether, it is likely a hermie.
What are the early signs of hermie plants?
The early signs of a hermie plant are very subtle. Hermie plants typically have small, white flowers that bloom in the early summer. They may also have slightly different leaves than other members of the same species.
Early Flower Stage
Once your cannabis plants have started to grow their first sets of true leaves (not counting the cotyledons), they will begin to enter the early flower stage.
This is when you will start to see the pistils (hairs) on the female plants begin to grow and form buds.
On average, it takes about 6-8 weeks for a cannabis plant to go from seedling to the early flower stage. However, this can vary depending on the strain, growing conditions, etc.
During the early flower stage, you will want to keep an eye out for any signs of hermaphroditism. Hermies are cannabis plants that display both male and female flowers.
While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can cause problems if you’re trying to grow strictly female plants (for example, if you’re trying to make your own feminized seeds).
Hermes usually happen when stressors are present during the flowering stage, so if you see any signs of stress (discoloration in leaves, stunted growth, etc.), try to correct them as soon as possible.
Some common early signs of a hermie plant include:
- Pre-flowers growing in places where flowers should be
- Male flowers growing on a female plant
- Female flowers growing on a male plant
- Intersex flowers (flowers that have both male and female parts)
Calyx
The calyx is the green, leafy part of the plant that surrounds the flower bud. Hermie plants typically have small, misshapen calyxes that are different in size and shape from the rest of the plant.
Late Flower Stage
When your plant is in the late flower stage, the pistils will be brown and the flowers will be falling off. The leaves may also start to yellow. If you see any of these signs, it’s time to harvest your plant!
Bananas or Nanners
Bananas or nanners is a common question when it comes to early signs of a hermie plant. While there are many similarities between the two, there are also some key differences.
Here’s a look at the early signs of a hermie plant so you can determine if your plant is banana-ing or nanner-ing.
One of the first things to look for is the size of the plant. A hermie plant will typically be smaller than its non-hermie counterpart.
This is due to the fact that hermie plants produce less chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis. As a result, hermie plants often have smaller leaves and stems.
Another early sign of a hermie plant is the shape of its flowers. Hermie plants typically have flowers that are not as symmetrical as those of non-hermie plants.
Additionally, hermie plants may have flowers that are male and female, rather than just one sex. This can be determined by looking at the number of pistils (the female reproductive organs) and stamens (the male reproductive organs) in each flower.
Finally, another way to tell if a plant is banana-ing or nanner-ing is by looking at the fruit it produces. Bananas and nanners are both fruits, but they ripen at different rates.
Bananas typically ripen faster than nanners, so if you see a plant with unripe fruit, it’s more likely
How to Deal with a Hermie Plant?
A hermie plant is a marijuana plant that has started to grow female flowers in addition to its male flowers.
While this may not seem like a big deal, it can actually be quite problematic for growers. Hermie plants are more likely to produce lower quality buds and may even be sterile.
If you suspect that your plant is starting to hermie, there are a few things you can do to try and save it. First, check the leaves for any signs of stress or damage.
If the leaves are yellowing or curling, this could be a sign that the plant is hermying. To help the plant recover, try giving it some extra TLC in the form of nutrients and water.
If you catch your plant in the early stages of herding, you may be able to prevent further damage by removing the affected branches. This will help encourage the plant to put all its energy into producing healthy buds.
Lastly, if your plant is already well into hermying, your best course of action is probably to just harvest the buds and start over with a new crop.
Hermie plants typically don’t produce high-quality buds anyway, so you’re not likely to miss out on much by doing this.
How to Avoid Hermie Formation
To avoid hermie formation, growers need to be aware of the early signs of a hermie plant. These include:
- Male flowers appearing on a female plant
- Female flowers appearing on a male plant
- White pistils turning brown or red
- Pre-flowers developing at lower nodes
- Stressed plants
Avoid Irregular Lightning Routines
As your plant grows, it will begin to develop a regular lightning routine. However, if you notice that your plant’s lightning is becoming irregular, it could be a sign that it is beginning to hermie.
To avoid this, try to stick to a regular watering and lighting schedule for your plant. Water your plant once every week or two and give it around 12 hours of light per day.
If you notice that your plant’s leaves are starting to droop or turn yellow, then it is probably time to water it.
If you think that your plant may be harmed, there are a few things that you can do to try to save it. First, increase the amount of water that you are giving it.
Second, increase the amount of light that it is getting. And finally, if all else fails, you may need to start over with a new plant.
Avoid Temperature Variations
If you notice your plant is flowering sooner than usual, it could be a hermie. Take a close look at the flowers and check for pistils sticking out among the petals. If you see any, your plant is likely a hermie.
To avoid temperature variations that could trigger hermaphroditism, keep your grow room at a stable temperature between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Be Careful and Don’t Light Burn Your Plants
You might be wondering what the early signs of a hermie plant are. Hermie plants are cannabis plants that have been stressed in some way and have started to produce male flowers.
Male flowers contain less THC than female flowers, so if your plant is hermie, you won’t get as high from smoking it.
There are a few different ways that your plant could become hermie. One way is if you stress it by accidently leaving it in too much light or heat for too long.
Another way is if you don’t give your plant enough nutrients. Plants need both nitrogen and phosphorus to grow properly, so if you’re using a fertilizer that’s low in one of these elements, your plant could start showing signs of stress.
The most common sign of a hermie plant is when it starts growing small, white flowers among its green leaves.
These white flowers are actually pollen sacs, and they’ll eventually burst open and release pollen. If this happens, your female plants will get pollinated and produce seeds instead of buds.
If you think your plant might be hermie, the best thing to do is take a break from growing for a while and let it recover.
Once it’s recovered, you can start growing again but be sure to keep an eye on your plants and watch for any early signs of stress so you can prevent them from becoming hermie.
Act Proactively to Prevent Plant Problems
If you want to avoid hermie plants, it’s important to be proactive in your approach to plant care.
Keep an eye out for early signs of stress, such as yellowing leaves or stunted growth. Address these issues as soon as possible, before they have a chance to turn into bigger problems.
In addition to monitoring your plants for early signs of stress, take preventive measures to help keep them healthy.
Make sure they’re getting enough light and water, and don’t over- or under-fertilize them. Avoid giving them too much nitrogen, which can lead to foliage problems.
By being proactive in your plant care routine, you can help prevent hermie plants and keep your garden healthy and happy.
Buy Seeds from a Trusted Grower or Nursery
If you’re growing cannabis at home, it’s important to buy your seeds from a trusted grower or nursery. This will help ensure that your plants are healthy and free of pests and diseases.
There are a few things to look for when buying cannabis seeds:
- Make sure the seeds are fresh. Seeds that are more than a year old are less likely to germinate.
- Look for seeds that have been stored in a cool, dark place. Seeds that have been exposed to light or heat will have a lower germination rate.
- Avoid buying seeds from untrustworthy sources. There’s no guarantee that these seeds will be high quality or pest-free.
- Do some research on the different types of cannabis seeds before you make your purchase. Different strains of cannabis have different growth habits, yield potentials, and THC levels.
- Ask the grower or nursery for advice on which type of seed is best for your needs. They should be able to help you choose a strain that will thrive in your growing environment and produce the results you’re looking for.
Final Words: Can You Save a Hermie Plant?
If you think your plant may be a hermie, there are a few things you can do to try and save it. First, remove any flowers or buds that have already formed.
This will prevent the plant from continuing to produce flowers and seeds. Next, increase the amount of light and air circulation around the plant.
This will help it to dry out more quickly and hopefully stop the flowering process. Finally, give the plant some extra nutrients. This will help it to recover from the stress of being a hermie and hopefully return to its normal growth cycle.