PISTILS AND CANNABIS: WHY DO THEY CHANGE COLOUR?

If you notice small hairs on the cannabis plant, these are pistils. The pistils are probably the most interesting part of all the cannabis sticks. And they tell you a lot about the cannabis plant. The pistils tell you a lot about the cannabis plant. But what are pistils? And how can they help you determine the right time to harvest cannabis? In this article you will learn all about cannabis pistils and why they are an important part of the cannabis plant.

What are pistils?

The pistil is the reproductive organ of the female cannabis plant, located in the centre of the flower. Its main function is to produce seeds and receive pollen from the plant. The pistil may consist of one or more pistils fused together. The pistil is responsible for the production of female gametes, which later become seeds. The cannabis pistil consists of three parts: the ovary, the stamen and the calyx. Together, these parts form the reproductive organs of the female cannabis plant.

Why are pistils important?

The pistil provides growers with important information about cannabis plants, including their age, sex and the right time to harvest.

Determining the sex of plants using pistils

A simple way to determine the sex of cannabis plants is by the pistil. If the pistils are visible on the plant after germination, it is a female plant. If there are no pistils on the plant, it is a male plant and should be separated from the female plants immediately to prevent pollination.

Autoflowering cannabis varieties have white pistils that emerge from the flowers 15-35 days after germination, and within a few days their colour starts to change from white to red or brown, unlike photoperiodic varieties, which have to wait several weeks for this colour change.

Photoperiodic varieties start to produce white pistils shortly after the grower reduces the indoor light cycle or when the outdoor light cycle is shortened.

In addition, pistils may appear at different times depending on the genetics of the variety. Usually, after 3 to 6 weeks of the growing cycle, the first few pistils appear randomly between the nodes on the stem. However, in some varieties their appearance may be delayed and may take up to 8 weeks.

Determining the time of harvest by the pistils

The colour of the pistils changes as the cannabis ripens. The pistils start to change colour at the flowering stage. When most of the pistils turnorange, brown or red and start to curl inwards, the plant is ripe and ready for harvest. The cannabis pistils and other indicators such as sticky buds and glistening trichomes are a great way of knowing when it's time to harvest.

The different colours of the pistils: what do they mean?

Pistils are not just white or orange. Depending on the content of phytochemicals in the pistils , they can be coloured differently.

White pistils

The pistils are usually white at the beginning of flowering. White indicates that the flowers are not yet ripe and contain few cannabinoids and terpenes. Therefore, growers should not harvest buds at this stage.

Orange pistils

At the flowering stage, various shades will start to appear and the cannabis plants will turn red, orange or pink. The orange pistils are a sign that the buds are ripe, full of cannabinoids and terpenes and ready to harvest.

Brown pistils

In the late flowering stage, the pistils turn deep red, amber or brown. The dark brown colour of the pistil indicates that pollination has occurred. After a particular pistil is pollinated by male pollen, the pistil has fulfilled its function and begins to die, turn brown and wither.

Red/pink pistils

The red and pink colouration of pistils depends largely on thegenetics of the particular variety. These colours are the result of chemical changes. The cause of the red and pink hues are flavonoid pigments called anthocyanins. These are the same substances that cause the characteristic colour of blueberries, red onions, cherries and red cabbage.

Buds on cannabis or important indicators of plant development

Now you know why the colour of cannabis pistils changes. The pistil is essential for the reproduction of the cannabis plant. The changing colours of the pistils are a good way to monitor the flowering of the plant. For example, the beautiful red and orange colours tell you when it is time toharvest. Knowing what a pistil is and its importance in growing cannabis is essential knowledge for any grower.

You can see for yourself how pistils change colour during the life cycle of a cannabis plant. All you have to do is visit our e-shop and buy cannabis seeds with a THC content of up to 1%. Then you can just get growing!