Marijuana Pollen: Collecting & Storing Cannabis Pollen

If you're planning to breed a cannabis strain or produce seeds, you might be wondering how to collect pollen and successfully pollinate your plants.

The good news? It's a simple process when you follow these easy steps.

Identifying a Male Cannabis Plants

As a dioecious plant, cannabis produces female and male plants.

When looking to identify a male cannabis plant for breeding and pollination, you’ll want to do more than just spot any male, you need to find a healthy, genetically desirable one.

Since most of the male’s bud traits are hidden in the genes, choose to collect pollen from a male plant that has parents that express strong vegetative growth.

What You Need to Collect Cannabis Pollen

What You’ll Need

• Scissors or pruning shears
• Small paper bags or plastic containers (non-static)
• A fine paintbrush or cotton swab
• Clean glass jar or ziplock bag
• Silica gel packet (for moisture control)
• Gloves (optional but helps with cleanliness)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Identify a Mature Male

• Look for pollen sacs that are swollen and beginning to open.
• You’ll see tiny yellowish dust (pollen) when sacs burst.

Step 2: Isolate the Male

• Move the male plant away from females to prevent accidental pollination.

Step 3: Collect Pollen

Option 1 – Direct Shake Method

1. Gently tap or shake the open pollen sacs over a clean paper bag or container.
2. Let the pollen collect like fine dust.

Option 2 – Cut Branches Method

1. Snip off a branch with ripe pollen sacs.
2. Place the branch upside down in a paper bag for 24–48 hours in a dry, dark place.
3. Gently shake the bag – pollen will fall to the bottom.

Step 4: Remove Debris

• Sift the collected pollen to remove any plant matter using a fine mesh strainer if needed.

Step 5: Store the Pollen

• Pour the pollen into a glass jar or ziplock bag.
• Add a silica gel packet to reduce moisture.
• Seal tightly and store in the freezer for up to 12 months

Make sure there’s no air movement in the area. Turn off any nearby fans and close all windows to prevent cannabis pollen from being blown away.

Pollen collecting should be performed in a separate room from any of your female marijuana plants to avoid producing hermaphroditic plants. Hermaphroditic plants limit bud production and produce cannabis seeds.

When you’re done collecting the pollen, make sure you’ve changed your clothes to avoid cross-pollination when you visit your grow room with your female plants.

Storing Your Cannabis Pollen

Some growers prefer to let their pollen dry for up to 48 hours before storing it for long-term use.

If you plan to dry your pollen, use a small brush to spread it evenly on parchment paper, then place it in a dark, still room with temperatures between 65–75°F and humidity between 30–60%.

This controlled environment helps preserve the pollen’s viability for future breeding.

How to Pollinate a Female Cannabis Plant

Pollinate when the female cannabis plant is in early flowering, usually 2-3 weeks after switching to a 12/12 light cycle.

Look for white pistils (hairs) coming from the female's flower sites. This is when the plant is most receptive.

If you only want to pollinate a few buds, isolate a branch with white pistils or tent it off with a plastic bag.

Using a paintbrush or q-tip apply the pollen by gently dabbing it onto the white pistils of a few buds.

You can apply cannabis pollen from multiple male strains on the same plant at individual flower sites. Make sure to label each branch with the cannabis pollen type you applied to document its unique traits and keep a comprehensive record of the parents.

Leave the pollen on the pistils for 6-12 hours.

What Happens Next

• Seeds will begin forming in about 7–14 days.
• Harvest seeds 4–6 weeks later (usually at the end of the plant’s flower cycle).
• Look for browned, swollen calyxes and striped mature seeds.

Throughout the entire process, your pollinated female cannabis plant should be isolated from the rest of the non-pollinated plants while the seeds are growing to avoid accidental cross-pollination.

To learn more about pollinating and harvesting cannabis seeds, enroll in Cannabis Training University's marijuana classes today.