Sensemilla and Sexing

BobNarley · 05-31-2008, 10:17 AM

Sinsemilla and Sexing
The word "sinsemilla" is derived from the two Spanish words
''sin'' and ''semilla'' meaning respectively ''without'' and ''seed''.
Connoisseurs prize sinsemilla partly because the marijuana has a
greater potency and a more intense aroma than seeded marijuana,
and partly because of its enhanced appearance.
In order for the flowers to ripen unseeded, they must remain
unpollinated (unfertilized). Male and female flowers usually appear
on separate plants. The males are removed from the space as soon
as they are recognized. This should be done early in the male plants'

development, before any large flower clusters appear. Even a single
open flower cluster can release enough pollen to fertilize thousands
of female flowers.
Males can be detected early by carefully examining the space
where the leaf joins the stem (internode). Before the plant begins to
develop flower clusters, a single male or female flower will
sometimes grow in the internode. A male flower will have what
looks like a bulb growing from a thin stem, and at the bulb's end
there will be a curved protrusion that looks something like a little
bent finger. A female flower will usually have two antennae-like
protrusions jutting out. Sometimes a sexually indistinguishable
flower appears. _____________ _____________________
The females' leaves begin to grow closer together, forming a
strong stem which will hold the clusters of flowers and later the
ripening seed.
Any plants which have not indicated are watched closely, and
the females are watched for any signs of hermaphrodites. These
plants are primarily female but they produce some fertile male
flowers. This may consist of only a few clusters, an entire branch
or, occasionally, males - throughout the plant. These plants are
dangerous in any sinsemilla garden. Even a small cluster of flowers
can ruin entire colas of buds. Either the male flowers should be
removed and the plant checked daily, or the plant should be remov-
ed from the garden, which is the safest course of action.
There are several methods used to sex plants early. Since mari-
juana flowering is regulated by the number of hours of uninter-
rupted darkness, it is easy to manipulate the plant's flowering cycle.
Young plants can be forced to indicate by putting them under a
long night regimen. The plants will begin to indicate within a few
days and after 10 days, fast growing plants should have clearly
defined flowers. Once the plants indicate, the males can be
separated from the females, and the garden can be returned to the
vegetative growth cycle simply by changing the light regimen back
to the long day/short night.
Putting the plants through an abbreviated flowering cycle sets
them back several weeks. First, their growth is stopped and then it
takes them some time to start growing again. Some growers feel
that the plants lose a bit of vigor in the process. To eliminate
stresses in the garden, a clone can be taken of each plant.
The clones should be tagged to denote plant of origin and then
placed in water or rooting medium under a long night/short day en-
vironment. The clones will have the same sex as its clone parent, so
the clone parent's sex is determined before the plant is out of the
vegetative stage. The female clones can be continued under the
flowering regimen and will provide a taste of the clone-parent's
future buds.
Within a few days of the change in the light regimen to a long
night, the plants begin to show changes in their growth patterns.
First, their rate of growth, which might be as much as 2 inches a day
during the previous cycle, slows and stops. Next the plants begin to
differentiate. The males elongate upon ripening so that their flower

sacks, which contain copious amounts of pollen, tower above the
females. Marijuana is normally wind-pollinated.
The females start to grow stocky stems with shorter nodes be-
tween the leaves. The number of fingers on the leaves decreases and
the plant may revert from opposite leaves to a pattern of leaves
alternating on the stem.
Within a few weeks, large numbers of pistils (the white anten-
nae) will form along the stem and on the tops of the branches. If the
flowers are fertilized, the pistils will start to dry up, beginning at the
tips. Each fertilized flower produces a seed. Such formation, which
commences upon fertilization, is apparent by the third day. The
ovary at the base of the pistil swells as the new seed grows inside of
it.
As long as most flowers remain unfertilized, the plant con-
tinues to produce new flowers. The clusters get thick with the unfer-
tilized flowers over a period of several weeks. Then the flowering
pattern begins to change. The pistils begin to wither, similar to the
way pistils of fertilized flowers do and they begin to dry while at the
same time changing color. Next, the calyx (ovary) begins to swell.
There is no seed developing inside the calyx; it is a sort of a false
pregnancy. When the calyx has swelled, the cluster or cola is ripe
and ready to be picked.
The pistil's color is a factor of genetics and temperature. Some
plants, including many indicas, naturally develop a purplish color.
Many indicas and most sativas develop a red color. However, the
color may change to purple or become more pronounced if the
roots are subjected to a cool environment, below 55 degrees.
The growing flowers develop glands over their outer surfaces.
Glands also develop along the small leaf parts surrounding the
flower. These are unlike the glands found on the immature plant,
the sun leaves, and the stem. The earlier glands were either con-
nected directly to the plant, usually along the stem or had a small
one-celled stalk connected to the head which filled with can-
nabinoids. The new glands have a longer stem which supports a
larger head. The head is a membrane that fills with cannabinoids.
The analogs of THC produced in the different types of glands may
vary.
When the gland first appears the head is small but it begins to
swell and looks like it might burst. Given any stress it will. Usually
the head is filled as the plants go into the last stage of flowering, as
the ovaries begin to swell. This is usually when experienced growers
pick the buds.
Researchers, scientists, and gardeners have debated the pur-
pose that THC serves to the plant. THC and the water-soluble com-
pounds which impart the taste and aroma to the flowers act as an
anti-bacterial agent, and repel some insects. They also repel most
other animals including mammals and birds. (Remember, we are
talking about a mature plant, heavy with resin.) This is not uncom-
mon in plants. To assure that the seed is viable and not destroyed
before it matures, the plant puts out a powerful array of chemicals

to thwart predators. Once the seed matures, it is palatable to these
creatures. This is one of the ways that the plant spreads its popula-
tions without human help. Animals and birds eat the seeds, an oc-
casional seed passes out of the animal's system unharmed, allowing
the species to colonize a new location.
Once the calyx swells, the glands begin to change color. The
THC in the head was previously a clear liquid. When the calyx is
getting a little overripe, the gland head tints an amber shade. This
indicates that the THC is beginning to degrade into two other can-
nabinoids, CBL or CBN, which are not nearly as powerful as THC.

05-31-2008, 10:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
BobNarley My Mood: Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mojove Desert-Southern California Posts: 530 gRamz: 13,375 Danks: 26 Danked 17 Times in 14 Posts	Sensemilla and Sexing Sinsemilla and Sexing The word "sinsemilla" is derived from the two Spanish words ''sin'' and ''semilla'' meaning respectively ''without'' and ''seed''. Connoisseurs prize sinsemilla partly because the marijuana has a greater potency and a more intense aroma than seeded marijuana, and partly because of its enhanced appearance. In order for the flowers to ripen unseeded, they must remain unpollinated (unfertilized). Male and female flowers usually appear on separate plants. The males are removed from the space as soon as they are recognized. This should be done early in the male plants' development, before any large flower clusters appear. Even a single open flower cluster can release enough pollen to fertilize thousands of female flowers. Males can be detected early by carefully examining the space where the leaf joins the stem (internode). Before the plant begins to develop flower clusters, a single male or female flower will sometimes grow in the internode. A male flower will have what looks like a bulb growing from a thin stem, and at the bulb's end there will be a curved protrusion that looks something like a little bent finger. A female flower will usually have two antennae-like protrusions jutting out. Sometimes a sexually indistinguishable flower appears. _____________ _____________________ The females' leaves begin to grow closer together, forming a strong stem which will hold the clusters of flowers and later the ripening seed. Any plants which have not indicated are watched closely, and the females are watched for any signs of hermaphrodites. These plants are primarily female but they produce some fertile male flowers. This may consist of only a few clusters, an entire branch or, occasionally, males - throughout the plant. These plants are dangerous in any sinsemilla garden. Even a small cluster of flowers can ruin entire colas of buds. Either the male flowers should be removed and the plant checked daily, or the plant should be remov- ed from the garden, which is the safest course of action. There are several methods used to sex plants early. Since mari- juana flowering is regulated by the number of hours of uninter- rupted darkness, it is easy to manipulate the plant's flowering cycle. Young plants can be forced to indicate by putting them under a long night regimen. The plants will begin to indicate within a few days and after 10 days, fast growing plants should have clearly defined flowers. Once the plants indicate, the males can be separated from the females, and the garden can be returned to the vegetative growth cycle simply by changing the light regimen back to the long day/short night. Putting the plants through an abbreviated flowering cycle sets them back several weeks. First, their growth is stopped and then it takes them some time to start growing again. Some growers feel that the plants lose a bit of vigor in the process. To eliminate stresses in the garden, a clone can be taken of each plant. The clones should be tagged to denote plant of origin and then placed in water or rooting medium under a long night/short day en- vironment. The clones will have the same sex as its clone parent, so the clone parent's sex is determined before the plant is out of the vegetative stage. The female clones can be continued under the flowering regimen and will provide a taste of the clone-parent's future buds. Within a few days of the change in the light regimen to a long night, the plants begin to show changes in their growth patterns. First, their rate of growth, which might be as much as 2 inches a day during the previous cycle, slows and stops. Next the plants begin to differentiate. The males elongate upon ripening so that their flower sacks, which contain copious amounts of pollen, tower above the females. Marijuana is normally wind-pollinated. The females start to grow stocky stems with shorter nodes be- tween the leaves. The number of fingers on the leaves decreases and the plant may revert from opposite leaves to a pattern of leaves alternating on the stem. Within a few weeks, large numbers of pistils (the white anten- nae) will form along the stem and on the tops of the branches. If the flowers are fertilized, the pistils will start to dry up, beginning at the tips. Each fertilized flower produces a seed. Such formation, which commences upon fertilization, is apparent by the third day. The ovary at the base of the pistil swells as the new seed grows inside of it. As long as most flowers remain unfertilized, the plant con- tinues to produce new flowers. The clusters get thick with the unfer- tilized flowers over a period of several weeks. Then the flowering pattern begins to change. The pistils begin to wither, similar to the way pistils of fertilized flowers do and they begin to dry while at the same time changing color. Next, the calyx (ovary) begins to swell. There is no seed developing inside the calyx; it is a sort of a false pregnancy. When the calyx has swelled, the cluster or cola is ripe and ready to be picked. The pistil's color is a factor of genetics and temperature. Some plants, including many indicas, naturally develop a purplish color. Many indicas and most sativas develop a red color. However, the color may change to purple or become more pronounced if the roots are subjected to a cool environment, below 55 degrees. The growing flowers develop glands over their outer surfaces. Glands also develop along the small leaf parts surrounding the flower. These are unlike the glands found on the immature plant, the sun leaves, and the stem. The earlier glands were either con- nected directly to the plant, usually along the stem or had a small one-celled stalk connected to the head which filled with can- nabinoids. The new glands have a longer stem which supports a larger head. The head is a membrane that fills with cannabinoids. The analogs of THC produced in the different types of glands may vary. When the gland first appears the head is small but it begins to swell and looks like it might burst. Given any stress it will. Usually the head is filled as the plants go into the last stage of flowering, as the ovaries begin to swell. This is usually when experienced growers pick the buds. Researchers, scientists, and gardeners have debated the pur- pose that THC serves to the plant. THC and the water-soluble com- pounds which impart the taste and aroma to the flowers act as an anti-bacterial agent, and repel some insects. They also repel most other animals including mammals and birds. (Remember, we are talking about a mature plant, heavy with resin.) This is not uncom- mon in plants. To assure that the seed is viable and not destroyed before it matures, the plant puts out a powerful array of chemicals to thwart predators. Once the seed matures, it is palatable to these creatures. This is one of the ways that the plant spreads its popula- tions without human help. Animals and birds eat the seeds, an oc- casional seed passes out of the animal's system unharmed, allowing the species to colonize a new location. Once the calyx swells, the glands begin to change color. The THC in the head was previously a clear liquid. When the calyx is getting a little overripe, the gland head tints an amber shade. This indicates that the THC is beginning to degrade into two other can- nabinoids, CBL or CBN, which are not nearly as powerful as THC.

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