Cannabis Flowering Phase: The Difference Of Calyx Vs Pollen Sacs

When you’re growing cannabis flowers in your indoor or outdoor garden, you may run into trouble identifying the difference between calyx vs pollen sacs. 

Calyx are potent buds that form on female plants during the first weeks of the flowering stage and appears to spiral in a Fibonacci array with small leaves, called sepals. In contrast, the pollen sacs occur in hermaphrodite plants where they release pollen into their calyxes that cause seeds to happen in the buds. 

Knowing how to spot calyxes and pollen sacs early, can give you insight on growing cannabis plants to avoid growing hermaphrodite plants unless you intend to.

In our brief guide, you can identify the difference between calyx and pollen sacs to grow the right flowers for inhalation. 

What’s The Difference Between Calyx Vs Pollen Sacs? 

Calyx contains potent compounds of pure resin, trichomes, and cannabinoids, that grow during the early flowering stages whereas pollen sacs occur in hermaphrodite plants, male and female plants, that grow seeds and not potent buds for ingestion. 

Calyx is responsible for the abundant potent buds you want during your cannabis growth cycle since it contains trichomes and pistils. These two components hold cannabinoids, terpenes, and other robust elements that many enjoy upon consumption. 

Pollen sacs take place in hermaphrodite plants and also form calyxes with pollen that can produce seeds inside the plant’s buds. Most growers dislike hermaphrodite plants since they mainly serve to grow seeds only with minimal potency on the actual flowers.  

Some female cannabis plants can turn into hermaphrodite plants if you put too much stress on them. It’s why you need to identify the type of calyx you may have grown since it can produce seeds rather than resinous buds. 

What Do Calyx And Pollen Sacs Look Like?

Calyx occurs in female plants appearing in a spiral Fibonacci sequence as a platform consisting of small leaves surrounding it. The calyx is a part of the bud with little leaves called sepals surrounding it to protect the flower at the foundation. 

Pollen sacs are male traits that show a green oval shape on cannabis plants along with female pistils. The male and female trait results in a hermaphrodite cannabis plant that can pollinate nearby female cannabis plants. 

Is Calyx Good For Cannabis Plants?

Calyx can occur on all cannabis plants, but the ones growing on female plants producing resinous buds along with pistils are good for them. 

The ones that don’t appear to turn into resinous buds can result in pollen sacs. It may result in a breeding zone for female plants you don’t want.  

Are Pollen Sacs Good For Cannabis Plants? 

Pollen sacs aren’t good for cannabis plants unless you’re a professional breeder wanting to develop distinct seed traits. 

What To Do If You Have Pollen Sacs? 

If you only have one cannabis plant developing pollen sacs then you can remove them to encourage the female plant to grow resinous buds. 

For those with more than one plant, make sure to remove the entire plant away. When the plant-producing pollen sacs are left with other female plants, they can pollinate them. At this point, the female plants may stop producing potent buds and focus on producing seeds. 

There’s a lot to know about calyx vs pollen sacs, but knowing how to identify them can save you time. 

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