by Jorge Cervantes
Female Pre-Flowering
Female calyx formation initiates about the fourth week of vegetative grwth when they developed female pre-flowers. The appearance of pre-flowers does not respond upon photoperiod. It occurs when a plant is old enough to show signs of sexual maturity, about six to eight weeks from seed germination. The pre-flowers emerge behind the stipule at the fourth to fifth branch internodes.
A pre-flower looks like a regular female flower; most have a pair of white fuzzy pistils. Pistils normally emerge after the light green seed bract part of the pre-flower has formed. Wait until pistil have formed t ensure the plant is female and not male. The pre-flowering stage lasts from one to two weeks.
Plants grown from seed under an 18/16 day/night photoperiod will usually shw pronounced pre-flowers before plants given a 24/0 day/night photoperiod. And, under a 16/8 day/night regimen pre-flowers show more quickly and are often more pronounced. Once pre-flowers are distinguishable as female, plants can be induced to flower with a 12/12 day/night photoperiod.
Always wait to induce flowering until after pre-flowers appear. Inducing flowering with 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness and 12 hours of light before pre-flowers develop will stress the plant. This stress could cause odd growth, and plants might grow into hermaphrdites. Inducing flowering before pre-flowers form will not speed flowering. Flowering will occur about the same time as if you had waited for pre-flowers to show!
Vegetative seedlings are now ready to start flowering. Male and female flowers will form and are easy to see.