How to Grow Northern Lights Autoflower
Northern Lights Autoflower turns one of the most famous indica classics into a fast, forgiving auto. It is an 80/20 indica-dominant plant with a gentle, low 10-14% THC, an earthy, piney and sweet flavor, and a creative, euphoric, uplifted effect. Compact, resinous and genuinely easy, it is one of the best strains for a first grow or for anyone who wants a mild, mellow result.
This is an autoflowering strain, so it flowers on its own with age rather than on a change in the light cycle, running from seed to harvest in a quick 7 to 9 weeks. The seeds are feminized, so every plant grows into a flowering female and you never have to identify the sex or remove males. It keeps the dense, resinous buds and the smooth, earthy character of the original Northern Lights, crossed with Lowryder for automatic flowering and a short, reliable cycle.
Recommended Strains
Northern Lights Autoflower
|
THC | 10% - 14% (Low) |
|
Type | Autoflowering |
|
Yield | High |
|
Phenotype | 80% Indica / 20% Sativa |
Northern Lights
|
|
THC | 17% (Medium) |
|
|
Type | Feminized |
|
|
Yield | High |
|
|
Phenotype | 90% Indica / 10% Sativa |
Easy, fast and low in THC, Northern Lights Autoflower is a rewarding, low-pressure way to grow an indica icon. You can see the full genetics and buy Northern Lights Auto seeds on the strain page, and browse the rest of our autoflowering seeds alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | Low (10-14%) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Northern Lights x Lowryder |
| Type | Autoflowering (feminized) |
| Genetics | 80% Indica / 20% Sativa |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Life cycle | 7-9 weeks seed to harvest |
| Harvest | All season |
| Height | 4.59 ft / 1.4 m |
| Yield indoor | 1.31-1.64 oz/ft² (400-500 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | 19.4-24.69 oz/plant (550-700 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Easy, beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Earthy, Pine, Sweet |
| Effects | Creative, Euphoric, Uplifted |
Promos & Deals
Growing an Autoflowering Strain
Northern Lights Autoflower flowers automatically with age rather than in response to the light cycle, so it does not need a switch to 12/12 to start flowering. It begins on its own after a few weeks and runs from seed to harvest in a quick 7 to 9 weeks, under long days of 18 to 20 hours of light the whole way through. Because the seeds are feminized, every plant grows into a flowering female, so there is no sexing and no need to remove males.
Because the life cycle is fixed and short, the plan matters more than with a photoperiod plant: you cannot veg it longer to make it bigger, so start it in its final pot, keep any training light, and avoid stress so it uses its short life to build buds. In return you get a compact, resinous indica of around 1.4 m that still yields well, which makes it one of the easiest and fastest ways to grow a relaxing indica in a tent or a sunny spot.
Climate and Where to Grow It
Northern Lights Autoflower does best in a temperate climate with mild, steady conditions, moderate warmth and good airflow. It is a hardy, resilient plant from legendary indica stock, so it handles a range of conditions well, but even temperatures and a dry finish suit its dense, resinous buds and help them mature clean. Because it is an autoflower, it is not tied to the seasons: it finishes on its own short timer, so you can run it all season and even fit several cycles into a year.
It performs well indoors and out. Indoors it returns a solid 400-500 g/m² in a well-managed tent, while outdoors it gives a generous 550-700 g per plant with full sun and room for the roots. As a compact, indica-dominant auto of around 1.4 m it is very easy to manage, so the main job is simply keeping the canopy open so light and air reach the lower buds.
Keep humidity sensible through flowering to protect the dense, resinous buds: around 55-60% early on, nearer 40-45% as the flowers fill out, and lower toward harvest. A resinous indica can trap moisture inside its chunky colas, so steady airflow keeps the finish clean. Aim for daytime temperatures around 68-80°F (20-27°C) with slightly cooler nights, which this temperate-climate plant enjoys.
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
Northern Lights Autoflower is a light-to-moderate feeder, and as an autoflower it pays to go gently: build nutrients up slowly and let the plant set the pace, since there is no long veg to recover from mistakes. Feed it through its short cycle, then taper off for the final flush so the earthy, sweet flavor comes through clean and the smoke finishes smooth. The ranges below are a starting guide; adjust to your water and medium.
| Stage | EC (mS/cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 0.4-0.6 | Very light feed while roots establish |
| Early growth | 0.8-1.2 | Raise nitrogen as the plant builds size |
| Early flower | 1.2-1.4 | Shift toward bloom nutrients (P and K) |
| Full flower | 1.4-1.6 | Peak bloom feed while the buds swell |
| Flush | 0.0-0.4 | Plain water for the final 1-2 weeks |
Flowering and Harvest
Because it is an autoflower, Northern Lights Autoflower starts flowering on its own after a few weeks of growth and runs from seed to harvest in a quick 7 to 9 weeks, with no light-cycle change needed. It fills out with dense, resinous, chunky buds on a compact indica frame, keeping the frosty structure the original Northern Lights is famous for. Thanks to that fast, self-timed cycle you can harvest it all season.
Yields are strong for such a fast auto: around 400-500 g/m² indoors and a generous 550-700 g per plant outdoors with good sun and space. Give it a little gentle training so the lower buds get light, feed it lightly through its cycle, and harvest when most of the trichomes have turned cloudy for the fullest earthy-and-sweet flavor and the smoothest, mellow effect.
Drying and Curing
Dry whole plants or branches in a dark room at around 60°F (15-18°C) and 55-60% humidity for 7-14 days, until the thin stems snap rather than bend. A slow, even dry matters with such a resinous indica, because its dense buds can stay damp in the middle while the outside dries, and a gentle dry protects both the aroma and the trichomes.
Then cure the trimmed buds in sealed jars, burping them daily for the first week and letting them settle for three to four weeks. A proper cure is what brings out the earthy, piney and sweet notes and smooths the smoke, which matters on a classic indica like Northern Lights where that clean, resinous character is the main attraction.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. Northern Lights Autoflower is a resinous, trichome-rich plant, so its trim works especially well for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin. Its dense resin makes that trim worth saving for a flavorful, earthy-and-sweet concentrate run from material most growers would otherwise throw away.
Flavor and Terpenes
Northern Lights Autoflower has a smooth, classic indica flavor: a deep, earthy base with a fresh piney lift and a soft, sweet finish, the clean profile the original is known for. It is a gentle, earthy-and-sweet smoke with a woody, piney edge, and a good cure really brings that character forward in the jar and on the inhale.
Its terpene profile shapes that character. Myrcene drives the deep, earthy and softly sweet base, while alpha-pinene and beta-pinene bring the fresh, piney lift. Caryophyllene adds a warm, peppery spice, and humulene rounds it out with an earthy, woody depth. Together these terpenes frame the earthy, pine and sweet character Northern Lights Autoflower is known for.
Effects and Best Use
With its gentle, low 10-14% THC and indica-leaning 80/20 make-up, Northern Lights Autoflower delivers a mild, easygoing experience. It is reported as creative, euphoric and uplifted, pairing a light, cheerful, clear head with a relaxed, mellow body, so it works well through the day as much as the evening. Its low potency makes it one of the most approachable strains around, easy to dose and hard to overdo.
That creative, euphoric, uplifted profile, combined with such a low THC level, makes it ideal for new smokers or anyone who wants a light, functional effect rather than a heavy one. The combination of a fast, easy auto grow, a gentle lift and a clean, earthy-and-sweet finish is exactly why it stands out.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
The biggest thing to get right with Northern Lights Autoflower, as with any autoflower, is the planning: because its life cycle is fixed and especially short, you cannot veg it longer to fix a slow start. Start it in its final pot to avoid transplant stress, keep any training light, and do not let early problems linger, since this fast plant has very little spare time to recover before it flowers.
Its dense, resinous indica buds mean humidity is the main risk late in flower, so keep the air moving, hold humidity down as the flowers fill out, and defoliate a few of the largest fan leaves in mid-flower so light reaches the lower buds. Its compact, even growth makes a multi-plant run simple, since the plants stay small and finish at a similar pace.
As a pro tip, go gentle on the nutrients: autos are lighter feeders and this one is fast, so it is easy to overdo it, and a lighter touch keeps the earthy-and-sweet flavor clean. Finish with a plain-water flush and a full three to four week cure, and harvest when most trichomes are cloudy for a smooth, mild, low-strength result that is easy to enjoy.
FAQ
Is Northern Lights Autoflower an autoflowering strain?
Yes. Northern Lights Autoflower is an autoflowering, feminized strain, so it flowers on its own with age rather than needing a switch to a 12/12 light cycle, and every seed grows into a flowering female. You run it under long 18 to 20 hour days from seed to harvest, with no sexing and no males to remove, which is a big part of why it is so beginner-friendly.
How much THC does Northern Lights Autoflower have?
Northern Lights Autoflower is a low-THC strain, testing at around 10-14%, which gives a gentle, easygoing effect rather than an intense one. Combined with its indica-leaning 80/20 genetics, the result is a mild, creative and uplifted experience. That low potency makes it one of the most approachable strains around, ideal for new smokers or anyone who prefers a light result.
How long does Northern Lights Autoflower take to grow?
Northern Lights Autoflower runs from seed to harvest in a quick 7 to 9 weeks, since as an autoflower it starts flowering on its own after a few weeks rather than waiting for a light-cycle change. That fast, self-timed cycle is one of the shortest around, so you can grow it all season and fit several runs into a single year, which is a big appeal of this auto.
What does Northern Lights Autoflower taste like?
Northern Lights Autoflower has a deep, earthy base with a fresh piney lift and a soft, sweet finish. Myrcene drives the earthy-sweet character, alpha-pinene and beta-pinene the pine, caryophyllene a warm peppery spice, and humulene a woody edge. A proper three to four week cure really brings that clean, earthy-and-sweet indica flavor forward on the inhale.
How much does Northern Lights Autoflower yield?
Northern Lights Autoflower is a strong producer for such a fast auto, giving around 400-500 g/m² indoors and a generous 550-700 g per plant outdoors with good sun and space. Results depend on light, pot size and canopy health, so start it in its final pot, feed it lightly, and keep an open canopy so the dense lower buds develop fully rather than staying airy.
Is Northern Lights Autoflower good for beginners?
Yes. Northern Lights Autoflower is one of the best strains for beginners: it is feminized so there is no sexing, it finishes fast in 7 to 9 weeks, its compact growth is easy to manage, and its low THC takes all the pressure off. With a little planning it is an easy, forgiving and rewarding first crop with a gentle, mellow result.
