How to Grow Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version
Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version brings together two of the most iconic old-school strains in a quick-finishing, high-yielding package. It pairs a strong 24–28% THC with a pine and sweet flavour and a happy, relaxed, night-time effect, on a sturdy, productive plant that races to the finish.
Built from Early Skunk crossed with Northern Lights and a touch of ruderalis, this is a 75% indica, 25% sativa strain with deep, resinous heritage. The ruderalis in its background is what makes it a Fast Version: a photoperiod plant that flowers faster and more predictably than a standard photoperiod strain.
Recommended Strains
Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version
|
THC | 24% - 28% (High) |
|
Type | Fast Flowering |
|
Yield | High |
|
Phenotype | 75% Indica / 25% Sativa |
AK 47
|
|
THC | 16% - 19% (Medium) |
|
|
Type | Feminized |
|
|
Yield | High |
|
|
Phenotype | 35% Indica / 65% Sativa |
Because it is fast, heavy-yielding and forgiving, Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version is a rewarding grow at any level. You can see the full genetics and buy Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version seeds on the strain page, and browse more of our fast-flowering range alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | 24–28% (high) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Early Skunk x Northern Lights x Ruderalis |
| Type | Fast Version (fast-flowering photoperiod) |
| Genetics | 75% Indica / 25% Sativa |
| Climate | Temperate |
| Flowering time | 8–10 weeks |
| Harvest | All season |
| Height | 4.92 ft / 1.5 m |
| Yield | High |
| Yield indoor | 1.47–1.8 oz/ft² (450–550 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | 28.22 oz/plant (800 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Pine, Sweet |
| Effects | Happy, Relaxed, Night-time |
Promos & Deals
Growing Fast Version Seeds
A Fast Version is still a photoperiod plant, not an autoflower, so it flowers on a light change rather than purely 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, just as you would with any photoperiod strain.
The difference is speed: a small amount of ruderalis in its background makes it finish bloom faster and more uniformly than a standard photoperiod, wrapping up in around 8–10 weeks. That gives you the heavy yield and potency of a photoperiod plant with a shorter, more forgiving flowering window, which is a real advantage in a short season or a cool autumn.
Climate and Where to Grow It
Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version does well in a temperate climate with mild, steady conditions and plenty of light, and its fast finish makes it a strong pick where summers are short. It is a tough, adaptable plant that performs both outdoors and in a controlled indoor tent, settling at a moderate 1.5 m.
This is a genuinely high-yielding strain: outdoors a single plant can bring in a huge 800 g in a good spot, while indoors it produces a strong 450–550 g/m². Keep humidity in check as the dense, resinous buds fill in, since tight skunk-indica flowers are worth protecting from bud rot.
Indoors, aim for daytime temperatures around 68–80°F (20–27°C) and keep steady airflow moving through the canopy. Its even, medium height makes it an easy fit for a standard tent without heavy training.
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
This is a vigorous, heavy-yielding plant, so feed it steadily through its quick bloom to support the dense buds. Start low, build up as the plant asks for more, and taper off for the final flush so the pine-sweet flavour stays clean.
| 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 a fast 8–10 weeks. The indica dominance shows in the structure: compact internodes, dense, resin-coated buds and a decisive bud set rather than long, stretchy branches, which keeps the plant stout and heavy-topped.
This is a productive plant that carries real weight on its colas, so keep the canopy open and support the heavier branches if they start to lean. Harvest when most trichomes have turned cloudy with a few amber heads for the fullest expression, and run a short plain-water flush in the last week or two 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 dense buds staying damp in the middle while the outside dries out, which protects the fresh, piney aroma.
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 sweet, resinous depth forward over the piney base and smooths the smoke, which is exactly what this classic skunk-indica cross deserves.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version is a frosty, high-THC plant, so the trim is excellent for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin, giving you a bonus run of potent concentrate from material most growers throw away.
Flavor and Terpenes
Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version has a clean, resinous flavour of fresh pine with a sweet, slightly skunky undertone, the classic old-school profile you expect from these two parents. It is a crisp, well-balanced taste rather than a heavy or fruity one.
It carries a layered terpene stack. Six shape the aroma: pinene drives the fresh pine note; terpinolene adds a bright, piney lift; myrcene anchors the sweet, resinous base; farnesene brings a soft sweetness; linalool adds a gentle floral note; and caryophyllene rounds it off with a peppery warmth. A background note of humulene fills in the woody, earthy corners.
Effects and Best Use
With its 75% indica base, Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version is reported as happy, relaxed and night-time in character, a warm, heavy feel that settles in comfortably at the end of the day. It is a soothing, full-bodied profile best suited to the evening rather than daytime activity.
At a strong 24–28% THC it hits hard, so a little goes a long way, especially for less experienced users. That potency, the fast finish, the huge yield and the clean pine-sweet flavour make it a genuinely rewarding grow.
FAQ
Is Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version indica or sativa?
It is strongly indica-dominant, at 75% indica and 25% sativa, which shows in its relaxed, night-time effect and its compact, heavy-topped structure.
What does “Fast Version” mean?
It is a photoperiod plant with a little ruderalis in its background, so it flowers faster and more uniformly than a standard photoperiod strain. You still flip to 12/12 to start flowering.
How long does it take to flower?
A fast 8–10 weeks once you switch to a 12/12 light cycle, quicker than most standard photoperiod strains of this size.
Is Skunk x Northern Lights Fast Version good for beginners?
Yes. It is sturdy, fast and forgiving, which makes it beginner-friendly. Keep the canopy open and manage humidity in bloom and it is straightforward.
What does it taste like?
Expect fresh pine with a sweet, lightly skunky undertone, driven by its pinene, terpinolene, myrcene and farnesene terpenes.
How much does it yield?
It is a high-yielding strain: 1.47–1.8 oz/ft² (450–550 g/m²) indoors, and a huge 28.22 oz (800 g) per plant outdoors in a good season.
