Pistils and Cannabis: Why Do They Change Color?
If you notice tiny hairs on the cannabis plant, these are pistils. Pistils are probably the most interesting part of the cannabis buds. They can tell you a lot about the cannabis plant. Pistils will reveal much about the cannabis plant. But what are these pistils actually? And how can they help you determine the right time to harvest cannabis? In this article, you'll learn everything about cannabis pistils and why they are an important part of cannabis plants.
What are pistils?
A pistil is the reproductive organ of a female cannabis plant, located in the center of the flower. Its main function is seed production and pollen reception. A pistil can consist of one or more carpels fused together. Carpel is responsible for producing female sex cells that will later become seeds. A cannabis pistil consists of three parts: ovary, stigma, and sepals. These parts together form the reproductive organs of female cannabis plants.
Why are pistils important?
Pistils provide growers with important information about cannabis plants, including details about their age, sex, and correct time for harvest.
Determining Plant Sex Using Pistils
An easy way to determine the sex of cannabis plants is through pistils. If pistils are visible after germination, it is a female plant. If no pistils are present, it is a male plant and must be immediately separated from female plants to prevent pollination.
Autoflowering cannabis varieties have white pistils that grow from flowers 15-35 days after germination, and their color begins to change from white to red or brown within a few days, unlike photoperiodic varieties where this color change can take several weeks.
Photoperiodic varieties begin creating white pistils shortly after the grower reduces light cycle indoors or when outdoor light cycle shortens.
Moreover, pistils can appear at different times depending on the variety's genetics. Usually after 3 to 6 weeks of vegetative cycle, a few first pistils randomly appear between nodes on the stem. However, in some varieties, their occurrence might be delayed and can appear only after 8 weeks.
Determining Harvest Time Using Pistils
During cannabis maturation, pistil color changes. Pistils start changing color during flowering. When most pistils turn orange, brown or red, and begin curling inward, the plant is ripe and ready for harvest. Cannabis pistils and other indicators like sticky buds and shiny trichomes are an excellent helper in determining the best harvest time.
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