Male vs female plants — how do I tell the difference?

You can identify sex around 4-6 weeks, or 1-2 weeks after switching to 12/12 for photoperiods:

Female signs: Small white hairs (pistils) emerging from nodes. They look like tiny white V-shapes.

Male signs: Small round balls (pollen sacs) hanging from nodes. They look like tiny grapes or ball clusters.

Check the nodes where branches meet the main stem. Use a magnifying glass if needed. Remove males IMMEDIATELY when spotted — one male can pollinate your entire garden.

Pro tip: buy feminized seeds and you never have to worry about this. All plants will be female. RKS feminized genetics are very stable — I've never had a herm from their seeds.

If you're ever unsure, take a cutting from the questionable plant, put it under 12/12 light for a week. It'll show sex while the mother plant stays in veg. Saves you from accidentally removing a female.