The Truth about Hermaphrodites

O

ogreb

Active Member
Guitar Man said:
Earlier Harvest? Do Hermaphrodites mature sooner than non-Herms?

Another discovery I found while researching Hermaphrodites: Apparently there are at least 2 kinds; Strain and Stress. The Strain will only produce minimal pollen balls/nanners. The Stress can go wild with pollen, and these are trash can plants (based on what I found). The plants I've grown are Strain, producing minimal pollen sacks, which made the grow and harvest more of a joy, than a downer.

Like you, I found only a few seeds after the finished product, and the MJ was KILLER! That's why I planted the Herm seeds on this grow, and so far, I'm not disappointed.
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Hermies will finish flowering up to 2 weeks faster then non...all that resin / plant juice is going into seed production not bud.
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
ogreb said:
Hermies will finish flowering up to 2 weeks faster then non...all that resin / plant juice is going into seed production not bud.
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I somewhat disagree. If my seed production is 10-15 from the whole plant, I don't see this being a significant amount of seeds to slow the plant down. I've checked the exact time frame for the strain I'm growing, and my plants are going the distance (4 week veg, 8-10 week flower). Now, if someone just lets the Hermed plant go, not pulling any of the pollen sacks or nanners off of the plant, then you may find yourself with a premature harvest

I'm getting ready to post some more pictures of my girls, and they are currently on target for a mature harvest. And, the buds are simply magnificent! Hearty, dank, and loaded with trichomes. I spent a great deal of time pulling ANY pollen parts off and away from the plants, and so far, I haven't found a seed yet. I know some will be hidden until after drying and breaking apart the buds, but from my own experience (last grow), my seed count will be less than last time.
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
bill6567 said:
I agree with your assessment about herms. They aren't the end of the world, and they can acutally be a good deal in the long run.

I had an Easyryder herm on me a while back. The bud was still first quality and the minimal seeds I ended up with grew great stuff too. All of the seeds from the herm grew female plants. None of them hermed. My Autocheese and AutoNL just hermed at roughly 50 days. It hasn't been a stress-free grow so I wasn't surprised. Since they both hermed, I'm just going to grow them out. Plus, my other hermed plant produced great product. I'm actually hoping for some seeds off of this.

I pulled off the pods (maybe 20 in all, mostly from the AC) with forceps and threw them in a baggie to seal up and toss in the trash. They were so smelly and sticky and covered with trichs, I figured, "what the hell!" I dried them out and burned them last night. Three hits and I was BLAZED. After that, I went Christmas shopping. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life. I watched Santa for a long time. I bought a series of gifts that don't seem quite as cool today as they did last night. I also came home, did another two hits and ate an entire bag of clearance Halloween candy I found on sale. I have to admit, I was bummed when 20 more pods didn't grow right back. If I was a commercial grower, herms would be a huge issue, but for my small production runs, they aren't a big deal at all. If the AC pods were that solid, I can't wait for the plant to finish up.
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This is my opinion, and that could change. A plant that Herms from stress may have a ton more seeds than a strain Herm. But, the female seeds coming from the the lady that was stressed may not grow a Hermaphrodite plant because the problem was not strain related.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Guitar Man said:
IMO, dealing with Hermaphrodites is good experience for anyone who wants to become a serious grower. I’ve done 2 grows with Hermies and my knowledge and expertise grew ten-fold during this time. Some don’t consider Hermies a problem like others do, and they take complete advantage of the situation, which is exactly what I did.

First, dealing with your Hermaphrodite will cause you to become VERY familiar with your plant, via a magnifying glass, flashlight, tweezers, and online research. I looked my plants up and down so many times, I know every node, every flaw, and practically EVERY leaf on my plant(s). This will teach people the finest details that go into a solid grow far sooner than another grower who is learning the ropes. I simply yanked any “Balls” off the nodes where they came up, and pulled the “Nanners” out of the buds with sterilized tweezers. Yes this was tedious, but like I said, this caused me to watch my plants for any sign of disease, deficiency (light, ferts, temps), and growth production problems.

Second, don’t listen to ANYONE who says Hermaphrodites don’t produce dank bud!!!!!! My weed was so fucking good, my good friends who grow for Dispensaries in busy California couldn’t believe how solid and sweet my finished product was! Taste, affect, and harvest were ALL good. In my research, experienced growers feel the Hermaphrodite plant is actually more potent than a standard Female because the Hermie is a SURVIVOR. They are a strong, resilient plant, which leads to greater potency.

Third, ANY seeds you acquire will be Feminine. Yes, they will have the Hermie trait, but keeping your grow room “stress free” can help draw down the chance of the plant producing any pollen. And, you won’t have to buy any seeds for your next grow if you happen to get super good weed from your Hermie that you want MORE of.

If a grower is careful and patient, you can keep seed production to a minimum, or almost none. This happened on my first grow (minimal seeds were found): 2 of the plants in my grow room right now are from my last grow seed production. My second grow, which has had some Hermie activity, I have ripped every part (Nanners/Balls) I could find away from the plant, and so far (based on my last experience) I should have only a few (if any) seeds.

Keep in mind, I feel that ANY bag seed (for the most part) will have the Hermaphrodite strain. No one grows with a male plant in their garden ON PURPOSE, unless they are a breeder or are just plain ignorant. It is possible if people are growing outdoors, if someone isn’t paying attention to their garden, a male plant that wasn’t discovered could blow pollen all over the neighborhood, scoring some “pussy” on the weed you found a seed in.

Feel free to critique my personal analysis of this controversial subject. I would like to hear about those who bought seeds from a valid source, only to find their plant went Hermaphrodite. Stress, Strain, and other unknown causes could be the reason, and, a sheer disappointment to those who considered the seeds to be a Non-Herm Female.
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Come back in 2 years and say the same thing and I'll back you up brother...
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
Come back in 2 years and say the same thing and I'll back you up brother...
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But, wouldn't you agree that as a new grower, which I am, dealing with Hermaphrodites is good experience and will lead me into greater knowledge sooner than another grower who takes a different path? I can honestly vouch, I have learned an unbelievable amount of information because of this strain and the complications she provides.

I agree with you, after a couple of more grows I may (or will) walk into my grow season with an entire different agenda.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Guitar Man said:
But, wouldn't you agree that as a new grower, which I am, dealing with Hermaphrodites is good experience and will lead me into greater knowledge sooner than another grower who takes a different path? I can honestly vouch, I have learned an unbelievable amount of information because of this strain and the complications she provides.

I agree with you, after a couple of more grows I may (or will) walk into my grow season with an entire different agenda.
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A hermi is a hermi. There are better things to do with your time in the garden rather than pluck nanners...
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
A hermi is a hermi. There are better things to do with your time in the garden rather than pluck nanners...
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You're still not answering my question and don't understand my premise. If I was a Cannabis Teacher, wanting my students to learn how to grow MJ with "Hands On" experience, I will guarantee, the student with the Herm will learn far quicker than a student growing a plant that is a Non-Herm.

I would be so bold as to say, the best Breeders and Growers in the World understand the full potential and nature of Hermaphrodites.
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
100_4294.jpg100_4331.jpg100_4298.jpg100_4322.jpg

OK, here are some pictures of the dreaded, Hermaphrodite. Out of 3 plants in my closet, 2 are Herms. This is the 1st one. Buds are fattening up nicely, and they are healthy and strong. I used seeds I obtained from my last grow, where the plants did Herm on me.
 
Alexander Supertramp

Alexander Supertramp

Well-Known Member
Guitar Man said:
View attachment 2437418View attachment 2437419View attachment 2437420View attachment 2437421

OK, here are some pictures of the dreaded, Hermaphrodite. Out of 3 plants in my closet, 2 are Herms. This is the 1st one. Buds are fattening up nicely, and they are healthy and strong. I used seeds I obtained from my last grow, where the plants did Herm on me.
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Nice looking plants. And goes to show beans from a hermi plant produces hermi plants. Least in your case 2 out of 3. I have nothing against anyone keeping hermis around the garden if they so choose.
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
100_4338.jpg100_4339.jpg100_4333.jpg

Here is the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Hermaphrodite, where I also used a seed from last year’s Herm. She is also healthy and strong, and the plant is extremely dank! This strain was the strongest out of 4 plants last year, and so far, she is showing the same colors again! The smoke and affect from this plant was AMAZING!
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
Alexander Supertramp said:
Why would someone learn more from a hermi than a plant thats not? They both still have the same needs, nanners or not.

I
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I thought I covered many of the “Learning” topics in my original post. From my own experience, I understand many things about growing MJ that would have come much later if I had not grown Hermaphrodites. Nature; Strain; Stress; Pollen and its function and ability; why MJ does Herm; how to minimize stress in the grow room; detection of male and female parts; finding a Hermaphrodite before pollen sacks burst. This list is basic and without full details. I have a journal, with complete and thorough entries that have resulted from growing a plant that was not easy.

I am also debunking myths that others believe about this strain/plant.
 
Trousers

Trousers

Well-Known Member
I noticed the op used the dreaded term, "hermie trait" no one can explain to me what this is.



Guitar Man said:
This is my opinion, and that could change. A plant that Herms from stress may have a ton more seeds than a strain Herm. But, the female seeds coming from the the lady that was stressed may not grow a Hermaphrodite plant because the problem was not strain related.
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A stressed plant does not put off more seeds, that is a function of how much pollen hits pistils that are ready. A plant that is stressed more than another will put out more pollen.

There are 2 different types of hermaphrodites when dealing with weed.
What I call a real hermaphrodite will have both an X and a Y chromosome. They will exhibit male and female flowers from the start of flowering. The resulting seeds will produce either male, female or hermaphrodite plants. These are somewhat rare, especially when dealing with indicas and good breeding. Many female sativas (having two X chromosomes) will put out male flowers at the end of their life cycle. Breeders try to breed this tendency out.

The other kind of hermaphrodite, or "hermie" is stress induced. Temp, nutes, and a ton of environmental factors can cause a plant to "herm." If you stress a female plant early on, it could show both types of flowers. The resulting seeds would be fem seeds. If you stress it a bit later it will throw out what is commonly referred to as "bananas." It is a defense mechanism that a stressed plant does to try to reproduce. If you let buds go too long they will start to throw bananas.

If you get a variety of weed that is finicky, it may be more likely to "herm."
If such a female plant is stressed and it throws pollen, the resulting seeds will produce fem seeds that are no more likely to "herm" than the parents.

Stress can not be passed on by genetics.

Fem seeds from good breeders are actually less likely to "herm" than regular seeds. Since a fem seeds has no Y chromosome, it can not produce what I referred to as a "real hermaphrodite."

If your female plant is showing male flowers, you most likely caused it. When I first started growing I had a plant "herm" on me and wanted to blame it on every one and every thing but me. It was my fault, I hit it with too much nutes.

I haven't seen male flowers I didn't want since then because I figured out my problems.

If your female plant shows male flowers, you have most likely been fucking the plant up. You should learn how to better control your environment, nutes etc.

Hermaphrodites are probably the fault of the person growing them about 99% of the time.

Fem seeds are great. I made a auto fem seed crop, the link is in my signature. I did not take pictures of my regular seed crop.

I am waiting on some Fem seeds to make another seed crop. This time it will be Tangerine Dream x itself and Blueberry.

The seeds from the tangerine dream will be very similar to the mom and shemale. The blueberry cross will have 3 types. 50% of the seeds will be a blend, 25% will take after the mom, 25% will take after the shemale. (In my opinion, the plant that contributes the pollen will be more dominant in the traits.)
 
Trousers

Trousers

Well-Known Member
By the way, Tiresias Mist (main ingredient colloidal silver) works great for inducing male flowers from female plants.
You can make your own colloidal silver for cheap, but I am lazy and can afford $20.
 
Guitar Man

Guitar Man

Well-Known Member
Trousers said:
I noticed the op used the dreaded term, "hermie trait" no one can explain to me what this is.





A stressed plant does not put off more seeds, that is a function of how much pollen hits pistils that are ready. A plant that is stressed more than another will put out more pollen.

There are 2 different types of hermaphrodites when dealing with weed.
What I call a real hermaphrodite will have both an X and a Y chromosome. They will exhibit male and female flowers from the start of flowering. The resulting seeds will produce either male, female or hermaphrodite plants. These are somewhat rare, especially when dealing with indicas and good breeding. Many female sativas (having two X chromosomes) will put out male flowers at the end of their life cycle. Breeders try to breed this tendency out.

The other kind of hermaphrodite, or "hermie" is stress induced. Temp, nutes, and a ton of environmental factors can cause a plant to "herm." If you stress a female plant early on, it could show both types of flowers. The resulting seeds would be fem seeds. If you stress it a bit later it will throw out what is commonly referred to as "bananas." It is a defense mechanism that a stressed plant does to try to reproduce. If you let buds go too long they will start to throw bananas.

If you get a variety of weed that is finicky, it may be more likely to "herm."
If such a female plant is stressed and it throws pollen, the resulting seeds will produce fem seeds that are no more likely to "herm" than the parents.

Stress can not be passed on by genetics.

Fem seeds from good breeders are actually less likely to "herm" than regular seeds. Since a fem seeds has no Y chromosome, it can not produce what I referred to as a "real hermaphrodite."

If your female plant is showing male flowers, you most likely caused it. When I first started growing I had a plant "herm" on me and wanted to blame it on every one and every thing but me. It was my fault, I hit it with too much nutes.

I haven't seen male flowers I didn't want since then because I figured out my problems.

If your female plant shows male flowers, you have most likely been fucking the plant up. You should learn how to better control your environment, nutes etc.

Hermaphrodites are probably the fault of the person growing them about 99% of the time.

Fem seeds are great. I made a auto fem seed crop, the link is in my signature. I did not take pictures of my regular seed crop.

I am waiting on some Fem seeds to make another seed crop. This time it will be Tangerine Dream x itself and Blueberry.

The seeds from the tangerine dream will be very similar to the mom and shemale. The blueberry cross will have 3 types. 50% of the seeds will be a blend, 25% will take after the mom, 25% will take after the shemale. (In my opinion, the plant that contributes the pollen will be more dominant in the traits.)
Click to expand...
So, is a stress induced Herm more likely to put out more pollen (balls/nanners) than a strain induced Herm? Or, are they the same? I guess the amount of stress would be the gauge.

What is interesting about this grow, the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] plant in the pictures only produced nanners in the buds; I haven’t found 1 ball on the plant. The 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] plant has only produced balls, and I haven’t found 1 nanner in the buds. Any comments or opinions about this?

So a stressed induced Herm is better candidate for seeds than a strain induced Herm, all because the seeds will all be feminine with no strain trait? Very interesting.
 
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