Determining Sex

[S0DA]

Hi peoples. Just wondering how old plants usually need to be before i can tell its sex? Also my plant seems very short , yet stocky and compact. Its 11 days old. Unknown strain. It looks very healthy with moderately fat leaves. System is aeroponics and drippers. 1x400w hps is 30cm away. Im a newbie and just trying to get a scope on a plants average size at this age in optimum conditions. Thanks any help would be appreciated.

[Gazza2001au]

2.5-3 weeks is normal but can take longer if the conditions are not right

[S0DA]

Thanks for your reply gazza. Im pretty sure its female, i have just checked with a magnifnifying glass and it has those 2 hairs growing upwards but not crossing each other at the junction of its first branches and the stem. Its barely 3 inches tall. Conditions are almost ideal,humidity could be higher maybe? Sits on around 40-55% at 25-30 degrees C.

[Gazza2001au]

the hairs will be a whitish colour u might be seeing the normal hairs not the sex? im sure theres a close up pic on this board if u look around also u can leave your humidity at what its at now it shouldnt be a problem if u can keep that humidity the whole grow you'll be laughing as u wont have and mould problems

[S0DA]

Thanks Gazza, Thats good to hear about the humidity being o.k as i am confident i can maintain it through the entire grow. It has already been tested on a couple of successive hot days(above 35C) weve just had and it was sweet, only a minor change. I think your right about those hairs too mate, they are not white but green. I have scanned the site for pics but all the plants are much larger and mature than mine. I guess i will just have to wait a bit longer. Be nice to know though. It looks female..haha. Do both sexes look identical at this young age? Or are there other signs?

[Gazza2001au]

the only way i can tell a male from a female before they show sex is most of the males grow quicker and look nicer

[ianTE]

Is the plant 11 days old from seedling?

If so you wont be able to tell the sex for awhile usual 4-6 weeks

and then with the light change from 18/6 to 12/12.

 

Experienced growers can tell before this sometimes (but not me!)

Hope this helps cause it can be along wait to find out it a boy.

 

Cheers.

[S0DA]

Thanks again gazza for your response mate, i will give it 4 weeks or so and then get back to you on the sex. Thanks ian, yeah mate its only 11 days old from seed. I have them on 22/2. Is this light cycle unessasary? Am i just wasting power for nothing? I am wondering this coz i read everywhere 18/6 and you also said it. I mean is more light better? I would have them on 24/7 , but i just wanna give my ballast a break for 2 hours a day. Is 18/6 more beneficial than 22/2 or vice versa? More advice would be great. This is only my 6th post and im stoked on all the advice ive got already. I love to learn, and i have from you guys today! Thanks heaps for that. soda---pfk

[Gazza2001au]

u can run as little as 16 hours of light a day up to 24 hours a day with my grows it depends what mood im in and what lights im using if im using HID i go with 18 hours of light just remember if u run HID lights 24 hours a day they need to be turned off for minimum 15mins once a week i think this goes for MH i think HPS can be ran for 24 hours a day continous

[S0DA]

Thanks once again gazza for sharing your knowledge. I will stick to 22/2 for now on the principle of more light=faster growth. I knew it musnt be good to run any ballast 24/7. Not to mention power consumption. Cheers. SODA.