Understanding White Label Seeds And Their Role In Cannabis Cultivation

When shopping for cannabis seeds, you may see the term “white label” used to describe a certain breeder or strain. Many seed banks avoid talking about white label seeds as they are sometimes sold at premiums under the premise of it being unique to that brand.

We believe that the discussion of white label seeds should be out in the open, so customers know what they’re buying. After all, white label still holds an important place in cultivation, as not everyone can afford to pay thousands of rands on premium genetics.

In this article, we’ll talk about exactly what white label seeds are, how they are named and how they are different from regular breeder packs. We will also look at who they’re best suited towards and why you shouldn’t exclude these seeds just because they’re cheap.

What Defines a White Label Seed

A white label seed is not unlike other white label products, it involves mass producing affordable seeds that focus more on having them available to everyone than they do on ensuring stability or authenticity.

White label seeds are bought in bulk from wholesale seed makers and then resold under different brand names. Sometimes they are sold to someone else, who then resells them to other companies who then do their own branding on the seeds.

This is different to classic breeding where the breeder will do the work themselves, making their own unique selections and developing something new or that they are passionate about.

Because these seeds are produced in large quantities, the selling price is significantly lower than that of breeder packs, and it allows budding growers to dial in the process of germination and growing before they upgrade to more expensive seeds.

Are White Label Strains The Real Deal?

Majority of the time, no. But let me explain…

Most of the best-known cannabis strains are actually clones and don’t refer to seeds. For instance, OG Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, Gelato 41, Chemdog 91, Zkittlez etc, all refer to specific cuts that were found (usually in bag seeds). So the only way to get the real thing is to find one of the few people in America with the original cutting and to grow your own clone of it.

So instead, most budget breeders create their own take on these strains and white label is no different. In some cases white label growers may look to create something similar by using seeds that have the original cut in their lineage, or by creating seeds and naming them after the most popular strains that have similar expressions.

So is that Girl Scout Cookies the same thing as the Forum or Thin Mint cuts that made the strain so well known? No. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t going to find some great results.

This is why we believe that being open and transparent with customers is essential, as one should be aware of what to expect from the seeds they purchase.

White Label Is Ideal For Those On A Budget

When you think about the costs of a single cannabis seed, you may be surprised to hear that the average price for a single, that’s been bred using one of these unique and original elite clones can easily sell for R250 to R300 a seed.

That’s cause elite clones don’t come cheap and the breeder may spend upwards of R50 000 on the cut, just to be able to work with those genetics. Not everyone can afford this high price tag, making white label seeds a more realistic choice.

Although many indoor growers keep mothers of their clones and re-run the same cuts each time, those growing outdoors are more likely to be running plants from seeds each year. These hunts can be quite large and hunting through 100 premium seeds could cost upwards of R20 000. Comparatively, you can buy white label branded seeds for a fraction of that, allowing for bigger hunts at lower costs.

Benefits of White Label Seeds

Affordable
Wide range of different strains available
More often covered by germination warranties
Readily available

Drawbacks of White Label Seeds

Often don’t grow like the strain they are named after
Less suitable for breeding due to lack of provenance
It can be difficult to know which white label seeds are worth buying

Conclusion

Overall, while white label seeds are often shrouded in controversy, by understanding what these seeds are and what to expect, they aren’t without their merit. They serve as most growers’ introduction to the seed market and while most go on to grow higher-end seeds, the process of learning and developing one’s grow style using affordable white label seeds is one that can be encouraged.