Before comparing strains, it pays to look at who is behind them. Two very different kinds of seller share the seed market: the breeder, which selects and maintains its own genetics, and the reseller, which distributes seeds from other brands. Both can be a good option, but they do not offer the same thing. In this guide we go over what sets them apart and which concrete signs you can check on any website before adding a strain to your collection.
Breeder and reseller: what each one is
A breeder works with its own mother plants: it selects, crosses and preserves its lines, and produces the seeds it sells under its own brand. It answers for the genetics from start to finish, because it knows them from the inside.
A reseller buys seeds already packed by one or more seed banks and sells them in its shop. Its value lies in range and logistics: it brings many brands together in one place. What it cannot do is answer for the origin of each strain beyond what the producing bank tells it.
Neither model is better by definition. The difference lies in what you can expect from each one and how to check it.
The differences, side by side
| Breeder | Reseller | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of the genetics | Own mother plants, selected and preserved by the bank | Third-party seeds, already packed |
| Product page information | First-hand: cross, genotype and data on the parent lines | Whatever each brand supplies, of uneven quality |
| Continuity | The same selection batch after batch, as long as the bank keeps the line | Depends on what each supplying brand does |
| Range | Its own catalogue only | Several brands in one place |
| Price | No middleman margins | Includes the distribution chain’s margin |
| Answers to questions | Direct, from the people who work the genetics | Indirect, through the brand |
Six signs you can check on any website
1. Third-party brands in the catalogue
This is the quickest clue. If the catalogue mixes logos from several banks, you are in a reselling shop. If every strain carries the same brand and the bank explains where its genetics come from, it is probably a breeder. Look for the “about us” page: a breeder usually tells you how long it has been working its lines and where it keeps them.
2. A documented cross on every product page
A serious product page states which parent lines the strain comes from, not just a trade name. For example, our White Widow declares its cross, Widow Bilbo × Widow BCN, and explains how its feminized, Auto and Fast versions differ. Next to the cross you should find the genotype; if you are not sure how to read it, we explain it in indica, sativa and hybrid: how to read the genotype.
3. Data presented as ranges
THC, flowering days and yield depend on the phenotype and the environment, so a bank that knows its genetics gives them as reference ranges, not as exact figures or promises. Be wary of round, spectacular numbers without context. We go into this in what the declared THC on a seed product page means.
4. The same strain in large formats
Selling 100 or 1,000 seeds of a single strain requires steady in-house production of that genetics. A reseller can rarely do it. If this format interests you, here we explain what bulk seeds are and who they make sense for.
5. An identifiable company behind it
Company name, tax ID, a physical address and a phone number that gets answered. Any online shop should display these details, and they let you know who you are dealing with. Also check that the website explains its payment methods, which countries it ships to and how it packs orders.
6. Clarity about the legal framework
A responsible bank sells its seeds for collecting and genetic preservation, restricts sales to adults and reminds you that the law changes from one country to another. If a website promises growing results or encourages you to break the law, that is a bad sign, whatever it sells.
Why buying from the breeder is usually cheaper
When you buy directly from the bank that produces the genetics, the price does not carry the margins of distributors and intermediate shops. That is why a breeder can offer the same quality at a tighter price without cutting corners on genetics. We tell the whole story, from the first Dutch banks to the Spanish generation of 2005, in why Trikoma Seeds are cheaper than other seed banks.
Our case: Trikoma Seeds
Trikoma Seeds is a breeder. We have been working with our own genetics since 2005, first producing for other brands in the sector, and since 2009 we have sold under our own brand. We do not distribute third-party brands: every strain in the catalogue is our own selection, maintained from our own mother plants in Barcelona. Each strain is available in packs of 6, 100 and 1,000 seeds, and behind it is Imagine Grow SL, based in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. You can read more in About Trikoma Seeds.
Frequently asked questions
What is a breeder seed bank?
It is a bank that selects, crosses and preserves its own genetics from its own mother plants and sells the seeds under its brand. It knows each strain from the origin and can document its cross.
Is buying from a reseller worse?
Not necessarily. A good reseller offers a range of brands and a convenient service. The difference is that the information and continuity of each strain depend on the bank that produces it, and the price includes the distribution margin.
How can I tell whether a bank breeds its own genetics?
Check that it does not sell third-party brands, that each product page documents the cross and the genotype, that it offers the same strain in large formats and that it explains since when and where it works its lines.
Why can a breeder be cheaper?
Because it sells directly, without intermediaries. The price reflects production, not the margins of a reselling chain.
Legal information
This article is for information purposes only; it is not growing advice or an indication of use. Trikoma Seeds seeds are sold exclusively for collecting and genetic preservation. Check and respect the law in your country before placing an order. Sales restricted to adults over 18.
