How Do I Sex using a Paper Bag?

SmokeyMacPot

New Member
Get a small paper bag or something similar that is lightproof (a paper bag will not be suitable for strong H.I.D lighting), and a plastic coated twist tie.

Select a plant that you would like to sex and choose a growing tip. Take the paper bag, place it over the top of the selected tip and seal with the twisty tie. Then, to simulate the flowering phase, simply remove the bag after the 12hr dark period, and replace when the 12hr day cycle ends.

After 7-14 days, the growth-tip you covered should start showing signs of its sex.

Editor's note:
Caution should be taken when closing the bag too tightly around the branch.
A small opening should be left open to allow air exchange and prevent heat buildup. Black materials tend to heat up and the branch may suffer from excess heat, causing wilting.

(10k)
"There is plenty of air inside the paper baggage because it would hold its own blown up shape...sorta balloned over the branch tip."

Contributed by: luckyleaf
Submitted: September 5th, 2004

This is for people that dont have room for clones or just want to know the sex of there plant without takeing and rooting early cuttings.

Things you need:
1 can of black spray piant
1 box of plastic ziplock baggie (sandwich bag size)

Take the plastic baggie and spraypaint the outside of the baggie, then find one of the lower branches that is furthest from the light (this will insure that light reflection on the black paint isnt too intence for heat buildup)and just simply slip the baggie over the branch for 12 hours of darkness.

If you have painted the whole baggie, then no light will get through to the branch when the lights are on. You will see sex on that one branch in 7 to 10 days in most cases.

I have done this many times on inside and outside plants.

Author: Daveiscool
 
What happens when you've determined sex and now have this one sexy branch and the rest of the plant is in veg?

Turn to 12/12 right away? Cut off this branch? Ignore it?

Wouldn't this confuse the fuck out of the plant (the rest of it that isnt sexed yet)?
 
What happens when you've determined sex and now have this one sexy branch and the rest of the plant is in veg?

Turn to 12/12 right away? Cut off this branch? Ignore it?

Wouldn't this confuse the fuck out of the plant (the rest of it that isnt sexed yet)?

I have done this and it works.


You put the bag on long enough to determine sex. You take the bag off afterwards. By this point you are 2 months into vegging (roughly 6 weeks to reach sexual maturity and two weeks to show signs of sex). So at this point many people just go into straight flower after removing the males. Not too much confusion, only a head start on one branch. Even if you wanted to veg another month you are so early into the flower and it is only one branch that you will not hurt anything.

Like I say, I have done this before and it works.
 
this may be slightly off subject but, u can also breed that one branch if u have collected some pollen from a male plant. there is a product called a "pollenation slip/bag" used to breed for seed on one branch while harvesting the remaining branches. whatever grow bible u use, it's in there.
 
Back in the day... we simply put male pollen in a bread bag and then once we chose the bitch, we would just put the bag over one branch and shake some pollen on it!

Old school and outdated I'm sure but it worked like a charm w/o any ill effect on the other females that I can remember... cheers!
 
yeah, captain, that's really all the pollenation slips are. only difference is the new slips will let air circulate w/out letting any pollen sift thru. the bread wrapper is what we always used. the slips just allow u to leave it on a little longer. keeps the pollen from getting blown around by the fans. same thing though.
 
Great info, thanks! I will probably try this tomorrow. :) Wondering though, could I flower just one branch to completion/harvest, while waiting for the sun to get to its magic-makin' cycle. Growing in a skylight, lol.
 
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