Cannabis Pollen

Cannabis growers either respect or fear pollen, depending on their level of expertise. Although you can’t eat cannabis pollen, it’s necessary for breeding strains and preserving genetics. This article will teach you how to do it and when the best time is.

If you’re not a professional cannabis grower, chances are you haven’t given pollen much thought. However, if preserving genetics or developing your own strains is something that interests you, then read on to learn more about how easy it is to gather and store cannabis pollen.

What is cannabis pollen and what is it made of?

Let’s start with some fundamentals before we get into the legality of cannabis pollen. The terminology used to discuss cannabis can be perplexing and often misunderstood.

The term cannabis typically refers to c, a plant with various strains that all fall under the same family. In agriculture, this botanical is more aptly called hemp. People often wonder why hemp would be legal and able to be cultivated when cannabis remains illegal under United States law–the answer is actually quite complicated. To learn more about the legality of cannabis, read our recent article discussing the topic in greater detail.

Hashish, also known as hash or marijuana resin, is the dried and crushed product of the marijuana plant. Hash comes from the same plant but has smaller glands called trichomes. Trichomes are little crystals that resemble pollen that develop in the tiny glands of the cannabis plant.

What Does a Male Cannabis Plant Look Like?

Male and female reproductive organs are produced by dioecious cannabis plants. Male weed pollen sacs look like small bananas, and they hang from the plant’s nodes. The stigmas on male plants are sagging and downward-facing, whereas the stigmas on female plants are delicate and upward-facing.

Is Pollen Only Made by Male Cannabis Plants?

Male cannabis plants are not the only ones that can generate pollen sacs. Hermaphrodite cannabis plants, which possess both male and female reproductive organs, can also generate the parts needed to release pollen from their male flowers. These hermaphrodite plants turn “hermaphrodite” so they can pollinate themselves.

When faced with harsh conditions, a cannabis plant will transition into a hermaphrodite in order to preserve the species by being able to self-pollinate and create seeds. This could be caused by an environmental factor that has killed all other males of its kind, for example.

Is Cannabis Pollen Useful?

Female cannabis plants are generally preferred by growers over males. After all, it’s the female that creates trichome-rich buds that we consume to smoke, vape, or infuse. Cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) as well as terpenes may be found in female buds. However, if she is unable to ovulate, the female plant can only generate resinous, phytochemically rich buds like these.

Male cannabis plants are generally considered a nuisance to beginning hobby growers, and if they appear in the growth area, they are promptly eliminated. Male cannabis plants discharge cannabis pollen into the air in order to fertilize female plants. It typically results in low-quality smokeable matter when this happens.

If fertilized, the female flower will create seeds instead. These added seeds will make your final product taste harsh and unappealing. The seed production also requires a lot of energy to grow properly, which is then diverted from the cannabis and terpene development.

Cannabis pollen is necessary for the development of cannabis strains, and it’s also beneficial for maintaining a particular variety’s genes.

Using Cannabis Pollen for Breeding

You can only crossbreed cannabis strains by using pollen from the male plant on the female reproductive parts. This process is called fertilization, and it produces seeds. If you want to carry out this process with precision, you need a plan.

How to Harvest Cannabis Pollen

If you want to cultivate cannabis, the first step is to obtain pollen from your male plant. To ensure that the quality isn’t lost, use the pollen as soon as possible after collection. During development, keep an eye on male plant pollen sacs. Cannabis pollen in nature is quite durable and can survive for 2–3 days.

To collect the pollen sacs, wait until they appear to be opening. Then, it’s simpler to take the entire male flower cluster. You can Squeeze and shake it over a finely woven micro-mesh placed on top of parchment paper so that only the pollen will fall through onto the paper.

Allow the сannabis pollen to dry for 48 hours before using it or storing it away after your sample has been filtered. Brush any remaining pollen onto a piece of paper, then place it in a cool, sunny location. Allow the pollen to dry for 48 hours before utilizing it or keeping it in storage. Shoot for a temperature range of 18–24°C and a relative humidity level of 30–60% when attempting to achieve optimum results temperature-wise; as far As

Pollen Collection Technique

Dry it Out

We need to dry out the pollen a little in order to store it safely. Make an envelop from a piece of porous, non-waxed paper (like printer paper). Make sure the folds are tight and the pollen can’t escape. Fill the envelope with cleaned pollen, seal it, and place it in a dark, dry location. The paper will allow moisture to wick away and escape.

Store the Pollen

Place the paper envelope in a mylar or plastic bag after 1-2 days (longer for humid surroundings). For long storage, place the envelop in a mylar or plastic bag. It’s not essential, but adding silicon dioxide balls or rice is recommended.

If the pollen you have is dry and powdery, it’s still good to use. However, if the texture is lumpy or clumped, this means moisture has gotten to it and its quality is now bad.

Freeze the Pollen

The pollen envelope is now safe to freeze for later use. Wrap it up in two bags and store it in the freezer. Pollen has an expiration date of no more than 8 months to a year if frozen without being preserved. Its effectiveness will deteriorate quickly after that, leaving fewer seeds for it to create. If frozen, pollen may be kept for approximately 2-3 years depending on how cold it is kept — the colder, the longer. It is essential to use the pollen as soon as it thaws and that it cannot be refrozen. You might find less hassle if you create a few envelopes with small amounts of pollen in each one instead of having all the pollen in one large envelope.

Unfreeze When Needed

Once you’ve decided to perform the act, unfreeze the amount of pollen that you want. A quarter teaspoon of pollen is sufficient to cover up to 4-5 plants throughout. Around week 3-4 is when females are most receptive, allowing them to finish their seeds. Remove the flowers destined to be pollinated from your bloom room and move them into a secluded area away from other plants.

Pollinate the Females

Take a tiny paint brush and dip it in the envelope to cover half of the brush’s tip. Flick the pollen over the female plant’s buds with a flicking motion. With every swipe, a cloud of pollen will fly into the air, so make sure you’re in a secluded area that isn’t connected to any other grow rooms.

Pollen germination and fertilization of female plants takes 4-6 hours, but you should wait 24 hours before re-introducing them to the flowering room to achieve the best seed yield.