Cannabis foxtailing: causes, fixes, and prevention

Foxtailing is a common cultivation issue 

It can significantly impact your yield and bud quality. 

If you’re seeing strange, stacked growth on your cannabis buds, you've come to the right place. 

This guide will help you understand what foxtailing is, why it happens, and how to fix it before it compromises your harvest. 

Without intervention, stress-induced foxtailing in cannabis can lead to airy, less potent flowers. 

We’ll show you exactly how to diagnose and address the root causes, ensuring you cultivate the healthy, dense cannabis you're after.

Disclaimer: Any information given on this site is for educational purposes only. Please ensure if you’re growing cannabis, you’re doing so by the law and subject to appropriate permissions and licenses of the applicable country.

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What is foxtailing?

Foxtail cannabis flower is when a plant grows unusually elongated growth on its buds, where calyxes stack vertically instead of forming a dense, rounded structure, resembling a "fox tail".  

This can be a natural genetic trait or a sign of stress, often due to light or heat stress.

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Is cannabis foxtailing good or bad?

When you see foxtail growth on cannabis, it’s not always a cause for concern.

There are two distinct types, and knowing the difference is key to a successful grow.

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Genetic foxtailing (good foxtailing)

This is the type of foxtailing cannabis that's actually a desired trait, originating directly from the genetics of specific cannabis strains. 

It’s entirely natural for these plants to produce these unique buds. 

You’ll often spot this in sativa-dominant cannabis strains that foxtail, like some authentic Thai landraces or even specific phenotypes of blue cheese. 

These cannabis foxtails are typically uniform and dense and look like a natural part of the plant’s structure.

The best part? Genetic foxtail growth in cannabis usually doesn't negatively affect the quality or potency of your buds.  

In fact, for some cannabis breeders, these naturally occurring fox tails are a characteristic they actively seek out. 

It’s just how the strain is wired, and it’s nothing to worry about. You might even find that these foxtailing buds are pretty appealing.

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Stress-induced foxtailing (bad foxtailing) 

Now, this is where you need to pay attention. 

When you see foxtailing cannabis that isn't due to genetics, it's a clear sign that your cannabis plant is under significant stress. 

This type of foxtail looks disorganised and uneven, with new white pistils often emerging from already mature buds. 

It can look like a bad thing, and it often is.

This kind of bad foxtailing can lead to airy, less dense buds, which will impact your overall yields and the potency of your final product. 

It’s your plant's way of screaming for help, trying to produce new flowers in an attempt to survive and produce seeds under adverse conditions. 

It’s time to investigate your grow room for clues if you see this.

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Primary causes of stress-induced foxtailing 

So, why does cannabis foxtail when it's under stress? 

Usually, it boils down to environmental factors.

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Light stress

One of the most common culprits behind bad foxtailing is light stress. 

This happens when your grow lights are too close to your plants or if the light intensity is simply too high, especially during the crucial flowering phase. 

Your cannabis flowers closest to the lights might even show early signs like bleaching or burnt tips.

The plant tries to protect itself from the intense lights and heat by growing new tissue upwards, away from the perceived threat. 

This vertical growth is what gives you those elongated, stressed foxtail buds. 

It’s a defence mechanism, not a desired trait. 

Proper distance from your lights is crucial for preventing this kind of stress.

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Heat stress (excessive heat)

Another major factor contributing to foxtailing buds is too much heat. 

Your plants will suffer if your grow area consistently experiences high temperatures, particularly when the lights are on.  

The optimal temperature range for cannabis cultivation is vital, and anything outside of that can trigger a stress response.

Too much heat often leads to light-related stress, as powerful grow lights can generate a lot of heat. 

Your plants are trying to escape the heat, and one of their responses is to produce these abnormal fox tailing structures. 

Remember, plants prefer a stable and comfortable environment, and too much heat can really stress them out. 

This type of heat related stress is a big reason why cannabis foxtails.

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Other stress factors

While stress from too much light and heat are the most common reasons for foxtailing in cannabis, other environmental factors can also contribute:

• Nutrient imbalances: Issues with the pH balance in your soil or an incorrect feeding schedule can stress your plants, potentially leading to foxtailing weed.
• Root zone problems: A healthy root system is paramount. Restricted roots or issues with drainage can cause significant stress to your plants, impacting their overall growth and potentially causing them to foxtail.

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How to fix and prevent foxtailing

The good news is that if you're experiencing bad foxtailing, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage and prevent it from happening again. 

The aim is always to minimise stress on your cannabis plants.

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How to fix foxtailing buds

If you're already seeing foxtailing buds due to stress, here’s how to address the immediate problems: 

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Addressing light stress 

If light intensity is the culprit, the fix is straightforward. 

Increase the distance between your lights and the top of your cannabis canopy. 

Start with a few inches and observe your plants over one or two days. 

For best results, use a light meter to measure the amount and intensity of light that your plants are experiencing. 

Check out our post on PPFD meters and the ideal PPFD for flowering to avoid foxtailing. 

Sometimes, adjusting your light/dark cycle slightly can help if the intensity is simply overwhelming your cannabis flowers.

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Managing heat stress

Tackling heat related stress is crucial for healthy buds. 

Improve the air circulation in your growing room to dissipate heat with better ventilation. 

Strive to maintain the optimal temperatures for growing cannabis. 

Cannabis plants prefer daytime temperatures of around 20-26°C (68-79°F), with a slight drop at night. 

If excessive heat is a persistent problem, consider adding more powerful fans or even an air conditioning unit if you’re growing indoors or in a greenhouse.

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Checking pH and nutrients

If light and heat aren't the sole culprits, investigate your feeding. 

Ensure your pH levels are consistently within the correct range for cannabis (soil usually prefers 6.0-7.0, hydro 5.5-6.5). 

Follow a balanced feeding schedule for your plants; overfeeding can cause just as much stress as underfeeding, potentially leading to foxtailing weed.

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How to prevent foxtailing cannabis buds in future grows  

Preventing cannabis plant foxtailing starts with creating an optimal environment from the outset to avoid stress on your cannabis plants:

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Optimising environmental factors proactively

A holistic approach to your growing environment will pay dividends.

Ensure you maintain correct temperatures consistently.

Good airflow around your plants isn't just for heat; it also helps prevent mould and strengthens stems.  

Ensure oscillating fans move air throughout your space to prevent stagnant air pockets and distribute heat evenly. 

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Strategic light placement

Always ensure your grow lights are at the correct distance from your plants from the start, especially as they enter the flowering phase. 

Monitor your plants for early signs of light stress, like yellowing or bleaching, to prevent foxtailing cannabis buds.

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Strain selection

Prevention can start even before you plant your seeds. 

If you’ve had issues with foxtail cannabis in the past and it wasn't genetic, you might want to consider cannabis strains that are less genetically predisposed to foxtail. 

Do a little research into the cannabis strains you're considering; some will explicitly mention whether they grow foxtail or not. 

Cannabis breeders often provide this information, helping you choose wisely and avoid bad foxtailing before it even begins.

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Prevent cannabis foxtailing with the Grow Sensor

The Grow Sensor is your precision environmental monitoring device, offering crucial insights to prevent stress-induced foxtailing in your plants. 

With super accurate temperature and humidity monitoring, alongside its ePPFD light meter for continuous light intensity measurement and LST sensor for leaf surface temperature, it directly addresses the primary causes of bad foxtailing: light stress and heat stress. 

The Grow Sensor empowers you to make immediate adjustments by providing real-time data on your grow room conditions, including the vital temperature range and light levels your plants prefer. 

This proactive approach helps you reduce stress on your plants, ensuring healthy cannabis buds develop without the unwanted foxtailing that can impact your yield and potency.

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Harvesting foxtailing buds

When it comes to harvesting foxtail buds, don't panic if you see some foxtailing. 

Your approach needs to be slightly different, but harvesting foxtail and producing a great product is still entirely possible.

The most important thing is to focus on the maturity of the underlying, main cannabis buds, not just the newly formed foxtail growth cannabis. 

These new foxtails can often keep producing white pistils and look immature, even when the rest of the bud is ready.

Your trusty magnifying glass or jeweller's loupe will be essential here. Check the trichomes on the denser, more mature parts of your buds. 

You’re looking for those tiny, mushroom-shaped glands to turn from clear to cloudy, and then to amber. 

Don't wait for the foxtail buds themselves to show all amber trichomes, as you might end up with over-ripe cannabis. Focus on the main buds.

While foxtailed cannabis can still be potent, keep in mind that bad foxtailing might result in buds that are less dense and more airy than genetically ideal ones. 

If you harvest at the right point, this won't necessarily affect the potency significantly, but it might change the bag appeal. 

Knowing how to fix foxtailing buds by addressing the environmental stress can help you produce denser flowers in future cultivation cycles.

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Takeaways

So, there you have it, the ins and outs of foxtailing. 

It's a fascinating characteristic of the cannabis plant, sometimes a beautiful genetic quirk, and other times a clear indicator of stress.  

Remember, a little observation goes a long way in your grow room or garden. 

By maintaining optimal temperatures, proper light intensity, and a balanced nutrient regimen, you can significantly reduce stress on your plants and ensure those precious cannabis buds develop exactly as they should. 

Whether your cannabis naturally wants to grow foxtail or you're preventing undesirable foxtailing, you’re now better equipped to handle whatever your plants throw at you.

Happy growing!

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FAQs

How do I stop my buds from foxtailing?

To stop your buds from foxtailing, adjust your grow lights to the correct distance, manage grow room temperatures to avoid extreme heat or heat stress, and ensure balanced nutrients to reduce overall stress on your plants.

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What causes foxtails to grow?

Foxtailing occurs either due to the strain's genetics or environmental stress from factors like light stress (too much intensity or proximity) and heat stress (consistently high temperatures in the grow room).

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How to fix foxtail?

To fix foxtailing in cannabis buds caused by environmental stress, promptly adjust your grow lights to the correct distance and manage grow room temperatures to prevent extreme heat, ensuring overall stress is reduced.  

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