Cannabinoid Froyd
Well-Known Member
What are some basic traits you like to see in the males you pick & is the choosing of a male really only about its morphology?
Picking Males
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Cannabinoid Froyd
Well-Known Member
Appreciate the ideas. Why is a hollow stem a must?
Rurumo
Well-Known Member
When you read that hollow stem thing, the person is parroting info from the 70s. A lot of this stuff comes from the book "Marijuana Botany" by Robert Connell Clarke. Really an excellent book even though it's 40+ years old. Supposedly, hollow stems equate to higher levels of THC. The other funny thing about that book is how it's one of the original sources for "scrogging" and "supercroping" along with many other training techniques that people have promoted on forums over the years as though they invented something new. I've never tested the hollow stem thing for myself, it sounds very bro-sciency, but I never discount an idea unless I investigate it personally. Most of that info is good though, choose a male for the traits you want and eliminate them if they have traits you don't want. It's easier to pick a good male from a uniform population, rather than a polyhybrid. #1 goal in breeding should be to eliminate intersex traits from your line, imo.
Cannabinoid Froyd
Well-Known Member
It is definitely quite the learning curve. I was hoping to be able to pick out a plant that is:
- Healthy
- Resilient
- Squat
- Sturdy/fat
- Terp profile
About the book, I believe I read a book similar or that exact one. Can't remember the name but it was the size of a soft back Steven King IT novel and was wrote in 1972. Why I remember it's year of copyright and not the title is beyond me. It was the first book I read regarding cannabis. Before I noticed your comment I was actually searching the web for it. Kind of hard to search for something you have no idea what the name/title is. lol
Is there anything you personally look for in a male or a basic checklist? I think I'm on the right track here but never know if there are other helpful things to know.
crisnpropa
Well-Known Member
Marijuana Botany by Clarke
Dreaming1
Well-Known Member
Big Balls.
The male isn't just passing structure. Half of the genes are his. Make seeds with same female clones and 2 different strain males. You will see the fairly equally mixed genes, and the mom or dad dominant crosses. You can only judge a male by his progeny. Find one that throws strong offspring and you can mix him with almost any good female. You have to grow out A LOT of seeds AND keep clones of the original plant. Takes a lot of time.
Now if you are line working the same strain, follow your heart. Pick the males that resonate with you. The ones that seem special. Listen to them.
Start seeing the plants that you didn't like and start eliminating them. Over time you can refine a line by growing seeds from selected males and tossing seeds from males you didn't like. You will end up with seeds that grow very similar plants and they will all be what you enjoy about the strain.
The male isn't just passing structure. Half of the genes are his. Make seeds with same female clones and 2 different strain males. You will see the fairly equally mixed genes, and the mom or dad dominant crosses. You can only judge a male by his progeny. Find one that throws strong offspring and you can mix him with almost any good female. You have to grow out A LOT of seeds AND keep clones of the original plant. Takes a lot of time.
Now if you are line working the same strain, follow your heart. Pick the males that resonate with you. The ones that seem special. Listen to them.
Start seeing the plants that you didn't like and start eliminating them. Over time you can refine a line by growing seeds from selected males and tossing seeds from males you didn't like. You will end up with seeds that grow very similar plants and they will all be what you enjoy about the strain.
Tangerine_
Well-Known Member
^^this^^
For F2s I like to use more than one male but every once in a while there will be a stand out that has a loud nose and trich covered anthers. Those would be worth collecting pollen for future projects IMO
Other than that, good structure, but I'm not convinced on the hollow stem theory.
Cannabinoid Froyd
Well-Known Member
I assumed that might be the case with picking males. IE: The progeny.
I collected my clones about a week ago. Didn't know if I could toss some yet or not. However, I think I will be scrapping one male for sure but it is due to it being a finicky pain. Don't need junk genes.
Thank you all for the tips. REALLY helpful & VERY appreciated!
I collected my clones about a week ago. Didn't know if I could toss some yet or not. However, I think I will be scrapping one male for sure but it is due to it being a finicky pain. Don't need junk genes.
Thank you all for the tips. REALLY helpful & VERY appreciated!
Hollow stem supposebly indicates the abillity to move more water and nutrients up the plant. Sunflowers are similar with their stems.
Its also hard to select based on this unless you kill obviously. From my own experience the hollow stem plants are stronger and also some of my best females had strong fat hollow stems.
I also think the showing early flowers is an interesting thing to look out for. Definitely some plants that need forever to show sex
Its also hard to select based on this unless you kill obviously. From my own experience the hollow stem plants are stronger and also some of my best females had strong fat hollow stems.
I also think the showing early flowers is an interesting thing to look out for. Definitely some plants that need forever to show sex
Tangerine_
Well-Known Member
Exactly right and I believe the hollow stem theory (at the time of publishing) was based on the idea that hollow stems were preferred over thick fiberous stems found in hemp.
The data and resources we have now have come a loooong way since then.
VAhomegrown
Well-Known Member
I was listening to Duke Diamond on a podcast a little over a week ago and he was talking about male selection, and he said to let the male get rootbound to see if it autoflowers.
conor c
Well-Known Member
Exactly you can find hemp plants with hollow stems i really wouldnt read into this 1 trait that much
conor c
Well-Known Member
Alot of strains do this not even just the males but it is more common in males for sure sweet pink grapefruit is a good example of this the females will bloom themselves regardless of photo period if they become rootbound even tho its a photo strain
xtsho
Well-Known Member
There are strains that will autoflower. I'm growing some Egyptian Sinai and the male was throwing balls and the female was starting to flower under 18/6. I have a female producing more seeds and a vial of pollen I'm going to use on a project I've been working on for 3 years. Middle Eastern strains can be semi-autoflowering. I know there are a couple outfits that have been working with Iranian. I think at least one is here in Oregon.
But you are right about rootbound plants starting to flower. I grow in small pots often and have witnessed it first hand.
conor c
Well-Known Member
i wonder if most iranian strains carry this trait then
waterproof808
Well-Known Member
How to pick males:
1. Keep clones of all males
2. Label everything properly and take notes of what pollinated what.
2. Grow out the progeny
3. Keep the male that produced the best offspring.
1. Keep clones of all males
2. Label everything properly and take notes of what pollinated what.
2. Grow out the progeny
3. Keep the male that produced the best offspring.
Cannabinoid Froyd
Well-Known Member
Any particular smells that you all chase?
Of the 3 possible males I have:
- Pickle
- Myrcene
- Linalool perhaps. Possibly
Of the 3 possible males I have:
- Pickle
- Myrcene
- Linalool perhaps. Possibly
Currently doing just that.