How to Grow Northern Lights
Northern Lights is one of the most famous indicas of all time, a near-pure 90/10 indica built from Afghani and Thai landraces. It is a feminized classic with a moderate 17% THC, a classic earthy, pine and sweet flavor, and a relaxed, happy and surprisingly focused effect. Hardy, resinous and forgiving, it is a benchmark strain that stays easy to grow while delivering heavy, frosty buds.
This is a feminized photoperiod strain that flowers in 8 to 10 weeks once you switch it to bloom. Every seed grows into a flowering female, so there is no need to identify the sex or remove males, which keeps the grow simple from start to finish. Its Afghani and Thai heritage gives it a tall, sturdy structure, a classic earthy-pine profile and the dense, resinous buds that made its name.
Recommended Strains
Northern Lights
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THC | 17% (Medium) |
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Type | Feminized |
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Yield | High |
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Phenotype | 90% Indica / 10% Sativa |
Northern Lights #10
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THC | 20% - 25% (High) |
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Type | Feminized |
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Yield | High |
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Phenotype | 75% Indica / 25% Sativa |
Hardy, heavy and a true classic, Northern Lights is a rewarding way to grow a benchmark indica. You can see the full genetics and buy Northern Lights seeds on the strain page, and browse the rest of our indica seeds alongside it.
Strain Profile at a Glance
| THC | Medium (17%) |
|---|---|
| Lineage | Afghani x Thai |
| Type | Feminized (photoperiod) |
| Genetics | 90% Indica / 10% Sativa |
| Climate | Dry, warm |
| Flowering time | 8-10 weeks |
| Harvest (outdoor) | October |
| Height | 6.56 ft / 2 m |
| Yield indoor | 1.47-1.64 oz/ft² (450-500 g/m²) |
| Yield outdoor | 17.64-21.16 oz/plant (500-600 g/plant) |
| Grow difficulty | Easy, beginner-friendly |
| Flavors | Earthy, Pine, Sweet |
| Effects | Relaxed, Happy, Focused |
Promos & Deals
Growing a Feminized Photoperiod Strain
Northern Lights is a photoperiod strain, so it flowers in response to the light cycle rather than on age. You grow it under a long day of around 18 hours of light while it builds size and structure, then switch to a 12/12 light schedule to trigger flowering, which runs 8 to 10 weeks from the flip to harvest. Because the seeds are feminized, every plant comes up female and goes on to flower, so you never have to check the sex or cull males.
That control over the light cycle matters, because this is a tall plant that can reach around 2 m with its Afghani-Thai vigour. You decide how long to veg it before you flip it, and flipping earlier helps keep the final height in check. It is famously easy and hardy, so a little low-stress training to manage height and spread the light is usually all a new grower needs.
Climate and Where to Grow It
Northern Lights does best in a dry, warm climate with plenty of sun and good airflow; its Afghani roots make it well suited to drier conditions. It is a hardy, adaptable plant that grows well indoors and out, and outdoors it suits a season that lets its resinous buds ripen fully and finish by around October.
It performs well indoors and out. Indoors it returns a strong 450-500 g/m² in a well-managed tent, while outdoors a healthy plant with room and sun gives 500-600 g. As a tall, near-pure indica of around 2 m it needs headroom, so give it space and support, and keep the canopy open so light and air reach the lower buds.
Keep humidity under control through flowering to protect the dense, resinous colas: around 55-60% in early bloom, nearer 40-45% as the buds fill out, and lower toward harvest. Northern Lights prefers a drier environment, so steady airflow and low humidity suit it and keep its dense buds clean. Aim for daytime temperatures around 72-82°F (22-28°C).
Feeding Schedule (EC Guide)
Northern Lights is a hardy, moderate feeder, but it still pays to build nutrients up gradually and let the plant set the pace. Feed it steadily through veg and bloom, then taper off for the final flush so the earthy, pine 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 |
| Vegetative 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
Once you switch Northern Lights to a 12/12 light schedule it flowers in 8 to 10 weeks, rewarding patience with dense, resinous, trichome-coated buds. As a near-pure indica it fills out with solid, chunky colas up a tall frame, carrying the heavy, frosty structure that made it a benchmark. Grown outdoors in a warm, dry climate it is typically ready to harvest around October, once the trichomes have turned mostly cloudy.
Yields are strong: around 450-500 g/m² indoors and 500-600 g per plant outdoors with good sun and space. Give it headroom and a little training so the lower buds get light, feed it well through bloom, and harvest when most of the trichomes have turned cloudy for the fullest earthy-pine flavor and the best of its mellow, moderate potency.
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 is important with dense indica buds, because they can stay damp in the middle while the outside dries, and a gentle dry 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 is what brings out the earthy, pine and sweet notes and smooths the smoke, which matters on a landrace classic like Northern Lights where that clean, resinous character is the whole point.
What to Do With Your Trim
Don’t bin the sugar leaves you remove while manicuring. Northern Lights is a resinous, trichome-heavy plant, so its trim works well for dry sift, bubble hash or rosin. It makes for a classic, earthy-pine concentrate run from material most growers would otherwise throw away, a nice bonus from a heavy-yielding indica.
Flavor and Terpenes
Northern Lights has the classic old-school flavor: an earthy, piney base with a soft, sweet edge, grounded and resinous rather than fruity or gassy. It is a clean, timeless profile, and a good cure really brings that earthy-pine character forward in the jar and on the inhale.
Its terpene profile shapes that character. Myrcene lays down an earthy, slightly sweet base that carries the heavy body, while alpha-pinene and beta-pinene bring the fresh, pine-like edge that defines the aroma. Caryophyllene adds a warm, peppery spice and humulene deepens the earthy, woody side. Together they frame the earthy, pine and sweet character Northern Lights is known for.
Effects and Best Use
With its moderate 17% THC and near-pure 90% indica make-up, Northern Lights delivers the classic, mellow indica experience. It is reported as relaxed, happy and focused, settling the body into an easy, heavy state while keeping the head clear enough to stay present, so it leans toward the end of the day. Its moderate potency makes it approachable and easy to enjoy.
That relaxed, happy profile makes it a great evening strain, well suited to winding down with a clean, grounded flavor. The combination of a hardy, easy grow, a heavy yield and a timeless earthy-pine character, all at an approachable potency, is exactly why it has stayed a classic for decades.
Common Problems and Pro Tips
The main thing to plan for with Northern Lights is its height. It can reach around 2 m with its landrace vigour, so top or train it in veg and consider flipping a little earlier to keep it manageable, especially indoors. Give it headroom and support for the dense colas, and keep the air moving so its resinous buds stay clean.
It is a famously forgiving, hardy plant, which is why it suits new growers, but it still benefits from a tidy canopy. A little low-stress training or a light topping in veg opens the canopy and turns one tall cola into several even ones, which keeps the height in check and makes the most of its heavy structure.
As a pro tip, lean into its love of a drier environment: keep humidity on the lower side through flower, which suits its Afghani roots and protects the dense buds. Finish with a clean plain-water flush and a full three to four week cure to bring that classic earthy-pine flavor to its best.
FAQ
Is Northern Lights a feminized strain?
Yes. Northern Lights is a feminized photoperiod strain, so every seed grows into a flowering female and you never have to identify the sex or remove males. You grow it under long days, then switch to a 12/12 light schedule to start flowering. That keeps the whole crop productive and makes the grow more straightforward, which is part of why it is such a popular beginner’s indica.
How much THC does Northern Lights have?
Northern Lights has a moderate THC of around 17%, which makes it approachable rather than overwhelming. Combined with its near-pure 90% indica genetics, the result is a relaxed, happy and focused effect that leans toward the evening. That moderate potency is part of its appeal, making it an easy, mellow classic to enjoy without overdoing it.
How long does Northern Lights take to flower?
Northern Lights flowers in about 8 to 10 weeks once you switch it to a 12/12 light schedule, rewarding patience with dense, resinous buds. As a photoperiod strain you also control how long it vegetates beforehand, which helps manage its considerable height. Outdoors in a warm, dry climate it is usually ready to harvest around October.
What does Northern Lights taste like?
Northern Lights has the classic old-school flavor: an earthy, piney base with a soft, sweet edge, grounded rather than fruity. Myrcene carries the earthy base, alpha- and beta-pinene bring the fresh pine, caryophyllene a peppery spice and humulene a woody depth. A proper three to four week cure really brings that earthy-pine character forward.
How much does Northern Lights yield?
Northern Lights gives around 450-500 g/m² indoors and 500-600 g per plant outdoors with good sun and space. Results depend on light, pot size and canopy health, so give it headroom for its height, keep it well fed through bloom, train it for an even canopy, and support the dense colas as they develop toward harvest.
Is Northern Lights good for beginners?
Yes. Northern Lights is a classic beginner’s strain: it is feminized so there is no sexing, famously hardy and forgiving, and happy in a drier environment. The one thing to plan for is its height, since it can reach around 2 m, so give it headroom and a little training, and its heavy, dependable harvest rewards even a first grow.
