Alright, let’s get straight to it. We’re a seed company. We sell seeds — not clones. But we’re not here to gaslight you into thinking clones are useless. If Smiley wanted to sling clones, we’d do it tomorrow. Easy peasy.
Smiley Seeds was born because of dodgy seeds, overpriced hype strains, and rich Chads from overseas using Mzansi as their dumping ground for leftover packs. It all hit the fan after 2019 when the world’s biggest seed producers crashed and left a quality gap in the market. And guess who got the scraps? You guessed it — South Africa.
So we built something better. Smiley Seeds was our way of flipping the script. Quality first. Prices fair. Germ guarantees in place. We back our beans. And if it wasn’t for us and a collaborative of breeder friends, we might be telling you to go buy clones. But the game’s changed.
Here’s why seeds (ours, at least) still matter — and how they stack up vs clones.
Seeds
For Home Growers
Seeds are ideal for home growers, hobbyists, and outdoor legends who want to hunt something unique. They’re legal to buy, easy to store, and give you the full experience from start to stank.
For Breeders
If you're chasing fire genetics or trying to lock down a new strain, seeds are the only way in. Pop a pack, pick the banger, clone it — now you’ve got a winner.
Advantages:
- Genetic resilience – Taproot = big strong roots = big strong plants. Outdoors they thrive, and indoors they push heavy too.
- Clean start – No pests, no viruses, no moldy stowaways. Seeds are born pure.
- Easy to buy and store – Seeds keep well, ship well, and don’t need a wet towel and life support on arrival.
Disadvantages:
- Takes time – Regular seeds need germination, vegging, and sexing. Feminized seeds skip the male drama and speed things up.
- Not every bean pops – Even from solid stock. But don’t stress, Smiley adds extras just in case.
- Slight variation – That’s nature, bru. Some lean berry, some push gas. All related, just slightly different expressions. Good seed = tight pheno spread.
Clones
For Facilities & Pharma
Clones are king — or should we say Queen — in commercial flower rooms. Medical growers want uniformity: same height, same yield, same terps, every time. SOPs. Automation. Tightly dialed systems. That’s where clones shine.
For Personal Use
They’re lekker to swap between friends, especially locally. But don't expect a clone to arrive smiling after five days in the post.
Advantages:
- Carbon copy genetics – What you see is what you grow. Every plant is the same.
- Fast start – Already rooted and vegging. Skip the baby steps.
- No males – If you know the mom, you know the outcome.
Disadvantages:
- High-maintenance – Clones are fussy and prone to sulking when conditions shift.
- Weak roots – No taproot = not as sturdy, especially outdoors.
- Inherits problems – Bugs, pathogens, viruses — if it’s in the mom, it’s in the cut.
- Hard to source – Can’t just toss a clone in the mail. Legal issues aside, they’re fragile AF.
Side-by-Side: Seeds vs Clones
| Factor | Seeds | Clones |
|---|---|---|
| Genetics | Diverse, unique phenos | Identical, carbon-copy traits |
| Time to harvest | Slightly longer start (germination + veg) | Quicker start (already rooted) |
| Roots | Taproot = deep, strong system | Fibrous roots = shallower, more delicate |
| Pest risk | Clean start | Inherits all mom’s problems |
| Access | Legal, easy to ship and store | Hard to transport, often local only |
| Cost | Affordable, with some loss margin | Pricier unless cloned in-house |
Summary: When to Choose What
Seeds — Pick seeds if you:
- Want to find something special, pheno hunt, or breed
- Care about price, clean genetics, and stronger plants
- Are growing outdoors or need something resilient
- Don’t mind taking a bit longer for a bigger payoff
- Want to grow your own clone mother
- Like surprises (the good kind)
Best for: Outdoor growers, breeders, budget ballers, and plant lovers who want a bit of mystery.
Clones — Pick clones if you:
- If you can’t get any Smiley Seeds
- Need 100% consistency every cycle
- Are running a legal flower facility
- Want a head start indoors
- Already have a solid mother stock and SOPs
Best for: Licensed growers, indoor operators, medical producers, and those chasing repeatable results.
Final Word
Look, if all seeds and clones were equal — maybe this would be a harder call. But they’re not. Not even close.
And unless you're getting clones from a rock-solid local source (not your cousin's cousin), seeds are still your safest, cleanest, most exciting option — especially in South Africa.
We’re not here to send you off to buy clones. We sell seeds. That’s our lane. And if we wanted to push clones, we could — but why would we? We want what’s best for our homegrower friends, and that’s still good genetics, priced right, with roots in the ground.
So... go on. Pop those beans.
We got you.
