How To Identify Hemp Plants [Marijuana VS Hemp]

How To Identify Hemp Plants From Marijuana

The word “marijuana” has been the most popular term for cannabis for decades now, although it is often misused. Because of this, there has been much confusion on a commercial level as to what marijuana really is. Hemp is not marijuana. Anyone attempting to use one or the other would be highly disappointed if they got the wrong entity.

There is also a difference between premium hemp and industrial hemp. The latter is grown for its fiber, while the former is grown for its flowers. Premium hemp flowers cannot grow well under industrial hemp settings.

Premium hemp, and premium hemp flowers, can look exactly like marijuana. That is because it is grown using marijuana growth techniques. Simply put, this means farmers center their focus around growing the most gorgeous and reliable flower. Industrial hemp, however, tends to have a much more defined physical appearance.

Fiber is the focus of industrial hemp growers. The growth of flowers is not a concern. This is because fiber is found in the stalks of the cannabis plant. Industrial hemp tends to be taller and thinner than marijuana plants because growers focus on the stalks instead of the flower.

The difference between marijuana and industrial hemp is pretty easy to distinguish, but deciphering the difference between premium hemp flower and marijuana flower can prove challenging. To determine the difference, it can help to focus on trichome production. 

Hemp, Marijuana, & Trichomes

Another physical difference between industrial hemp and marijuana comes from the trichomes. Trichomes are the small sticky hairs on the marijuana plant. They are defined as “fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists.” In cannabis, trichomes are essential because they regulate the creation and storage of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

Trichomes on industrial hemp flowers are typically less defined compared to marijuana flowers, which sometimes can be so sticky that it is hard to break up. Although there are premium hemp flowers on the market that may look deceivingly like marijuana plants, industrial hemp flowers will appear to have fewer trichomes.

It is not easy to discern these differences though. Since the Farm Bill of 2018 passed, more and more growers have become focused on creating gorgeous hemp flowers rather than concentrating on fiber production. These growers are bridging the visual gap between marijuana and hemp. Soon the only way to tell the difference might be to analyze the THC content in each for comparison.

Male vs. Female Hemp Plants

One other important part of identifying hemp plants is the ability to distinguish between the genders. In the world of cannabis cultivation, females rule supreme. This is true for both hemp and marijuana plants. The flowers that consumers desire develop on female plants.

Male cannabis plants are responsible for pollinating the females. Subsequently, male plants are handled with caution. Female plants produce seeds when fertilized by males. Besides for breeding purposes, females are seen as less valuable when they produce seeds.

The cannabis plant has a limited amount of energy. It can devote its energy to growing beautiful flowers, or to producing seeds. Half of a female’s energy is diverted to create seeds after pollination. Female fertilization results in flowers with seeds and fewer cannabinoids.

One male plant can pollinate an entire field of females, so hemp farmers are very cautious of mixing the two genders. The same goes for marijuana cultivation.

How To Tell The Difference Between Male & Female Hemp Plants

Farmers want to separate males from females before they can pollinate. Therefore, they must discover the males before their pollen sacs multiply and burst. The easiest way to tell the difference between male and female hemp plants is by studying the growths near the nodes. 

The nodes are where the leaves and branches separate off from the plant. Male plants will have little pollen sacs near the nodes, while females will have a stigma.

There are rare occasions where hermaphrodite plants produce both pollen sacs and stigma. Hermaphrodites are still capable of pollinating female plants. To avoid pollination, hemp farmers will remove male and hermaphrodite plants from the environment so their females can produce beautiful seedless flowers.

When male hemp plants are ready to pollinate, the pollen sacs will burst. The stigma of female hemp plants will then collect the pollen.