How to Grow Northern Lights x Skunk
Northern Lights x Skunk is a legendary, sativa-leaning feminized hybrid that marries two of the most influential strains in cannabis history. It carries a smooth 17% THC, an earthy, piney, sweet flavour and a focused, happy, relaxed effect, all on a vigorous, high-yielding plant that stays manageable in size.
Built from Northern Lights crossed with Skunk #1, this is a 55% sativa, 45% indica cross with the energy of a sativa and the sturdiness of its indica and skunk roots. The result is a reliable, consistent grower that newer and experienced growers alike turn to when they want a dependable classic.
Recommended Strains
Skunk x Northern Lights
|
THC | 15% - 17% (Medium) |
|
Type | Feminized |
|
Yield | High |
|
Phenotype | 80% Indica / 20% Sativa |
Afghan Hash Plant Regular
|
|
THC | 18% - 22% (Medium) |
|
|
Type | Regular |
|
|
Yield | High |
|
|
Phenotype | 90% Indica / 10% Sativa |
Because it is robust, generous and easy to manage, Northern Lights x Skunk has stayed popular for decades. You can see the full genetics and buy Northern Lights x Skunk feminized seeds on the strain page, and explore the rest of our feminized range, or browse all our strains to compare.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | 17% (medium) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Northern Lights x Skunk #1 |
| Type | Feminized |
| Genetics | 55% Sativa / 45% Indica |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Flowering time | 8–10 weeks |
| Harvest | October |
| Height | 4.27 ft / 1.3 m |
| Yield | High |
| Yield indoor | 1.8 oz/ft² (550 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | 14.11–22.93 oz/plant (400–650 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Earthy, Pine, Sweet |
| Effects | Focused, Happy, Relaxed |
Promos & Deals
Climate and Where to Grow It
Northern Lights x Skunk thrives in a temperate climate with mild, steady conditions and plenty of light. Its Northern Lights and Skunk heritage makes it tough and forgiving, so it handles both an outdoor plot and a controlled indoor tent with ease.
Outdoors it finishes around October, so it suits regions with a reasonably long, dry late season. It reaches a moderate 1.3 m, keeping it easy to manage on a balcony, in a greenhouse or in a garden bed, and a single well-grown plant can bring in a generous 400–650 g. Keep humidity in check as the buds swell to protect that resin.
Indoors, aim for daytime temperatures around 68–80°F (20–27°C) and keep steady airflow through the canopy. With a strong 550 g/m² potential indoors, it rewards a tidy, well-lit space and good canopy management.
Growing Feminized Photoperiod Seeds
As a feminized strain, every seed grows into a flowering female, so there is no need to sex the plants or cull males. That makes the grow simpler and means no wasted space or time on plants you would only remove.
Being a photoperiod plant, Northern Lights x Skunk flowers on a light change rather than on age. Grow it under a long day (around 18 hours of light) through the vegetative stage, then switch to a 12/12 cycle to trigger flowering. That gives you full control over plant size: a longer veg builds a bigger frame and a bigger harvest, while a shorter veg keeps things compact.
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
Skunk-heritage plants are vigorous feeders, and with a high-yielding strain like this you can push nutrients a little harder through bloom to support the heavy buds. Start low, build up as the plant asks for more, and taper off for the final flush.
| Stage | EC (mS/cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 0.4–0.6 | Very light feed, focus on healthy root growth |
| Vegetative growth | 0.8–1.2 | Build the frame, raise nitrogen gradually |
| Early flower | 1.2–1.4 | Shift toward bloom nutrients (P and K) |
| Full flower | 1.4–1.6 | Peak bloom feed while the heavy buds swell |
| Flush | 0.0–0.4 | Plain water for the final 1–2 weeks |
Flowering and Harvest
Once you flip to 12/12, bloom runs about 8–10 weeks. The sativa lean shows in the structure: a bit of flowering stretch early on, then long, resinous colas rather than the squat, chunky buds of a pure indica. A little early training pays off here to keep the canopy even.
This is a high-yielding plant, so support the longer colas if they start to lean and keep light reaching the lower bud sites. Harvest when most trichomes have turned cloudy with a few amber heads for the fullest, most balanced expression, and run a short plain-water flush in the last week or two to clean up the finish before you cut.
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 stops the inside staying damp while the outside dries, which protects both the aroma and the resin.
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 brings the earthy, pine-sweet character forward and smooths the smoke, which is exactly what this classic Northern Lights x Skunk cross deserves.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. This is a frosty, resinous plant, so the trim works well for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin, giving you a bonus run of concentrate from material most growers simply throw away.
Flavor and Terpenes
Northern Lights x Skunk tastes earthy, piney and sweet, a grounded, classic profile that reflects its old-school heritage. It is savoury and resinous rather than fruity or citrus-forward, with the gentle sweetness that softens the earthy, skunky backbone.
Several terpenes shape it. Six stand out: pinene drives the clean, fresh pine note; myrcene anchors the earthy, musky base; caryophyllene adds a peppery, spicy warmth; humulene brings a woody, hoppy depth; terpinolene lifts it with a fresh, piney top note; and farnesene rounds in a soft, green-apple sweetness. A touch of linalool adds a floral note in the background.
Effects and Best Use
With its 55% sativa base, Northern Lights x Skunk is reported as focused, happy and relaxed. It is a balanced, clear-headed profile that leans sativa enough for daytime or social use, yet keeps the steadying body side from its Northern Lights and skunk roots.
The medium 17% THC keeps it approachable rather than overwhelming, so it is easy to enjoy without being heavy-handed. Pair that with the reliable high yield, the manageable size and the earthy-pine flavour, and you have a classic hybrid that is as rewarding to grow as it is to use.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
Northern Lights x Skunk is a tough, forgiving classic, but it is a skunky, slightly sativa-leaning hybrid, so plan for the smell and the stretch.
- Plan for the smell: its Skunk #1 side gives a pungent aroma in flower, so run a carbon filter if you need to keep the grow discreet.
- Manage the stretch: as a 55% sativa it reaches up a little after the flip, so train the tops to keep the canopy even and well lit.
- Keep air moving: its buds are fairly dense, so keep flowering humidity down and run a fan through the canopy to avoid bud rot late in bloom.
Expert tip: this is a reliable old-school cross that rewards the basics. Dry slowly in a cool, dark space and cure in jars so that earthy, piney, lightly sweet character comes through at its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northern Lights x Skunk indica or sativa?
It is a sativa-leaning hybrid, at 55% sativa and 45% indica, which gives it a clear, focused effect with a steadying body side. That near-even split also shapes the plant, which grows a middle-of-the-road structure, so a little training keeps the canopy level and the lower buds well lit.
How long does it take to flower?
About 8 to 10 weeks once you switch to a 12/12 light cycle, with outdoor plants finishing around October. Its buds are fairly dense, so keep a fan moving air through the canopy across that window and check trichomes toward the end to catch the plant at your preferred ripeness.
Do I need to sex the plants?
No. These are feminized seeds, so every plant grows into a flowering female. There is no need to identify or remove males, which keeps the grow simple and makes better use of your space, since every seed you plant turns into a productive plant rather than a male you would have to cull.
Is Northern Lights x Skunk good for beginners?
Yes. It is a tough, forgiving and reliable classic, which makes it beginner-friendly. Keep the canopy open with a little training and manage humidity in bloom, since the buds are fairly dense, and it is straightforward. Running a carbon filter for the skunk aroma is the other main job.
What does it taste like?
Expect an earthy, piney flavour with a sweet undertone, driven by its pinene, myrcene, caryophyllene and terpinolene terpenes. Dry slowly in a cool, dark space and cure in jars so that classic earthy, piney, lightly sweet character comes through at its best in the finished flower after harvest.
How much does it yield?
It is a high producer: 1.8 oz/ft² (550 g/m²) indoors, and 14.11 to 22.93 oz (400 to 650 g) per plant outdoors in a good season. Good light, an open canopy and steady feeding help this reliable classic reach the top of that range at harvest time.
