Northern Lights is one of the most highly acclaimed and widely beloved love strains of weed worldwide.
Deriving its name from its dreamy and psychedelic effects, it has become a quintessential cannabis experience.
In this Northern Lights review, we will answer common questions about the strain and provide insights about growing it.
Northern Lights Strain (Key Info)
- Effects: Relaxed, Happy, Euphoric
- Helps With: Stress, Pain, Insomnia
- Indoor Yield: 500g/m2
- Outdoor Yield: 600g/plant
- Flowering Time: 9 weeks
- Outdoor Harvest Time: Mid October
- THC Content: 18%
- CBD Content: 0.10%
- Indoor Plant Height: Tall
- Grow Difficulty: Easy
- Genetics: afghani , thai
- Flavors: earthy, sweet, pine
- Best place to buy seeds: Seedsman.com
Where To Buy Northern Lights Seeds
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Where Does Northern Lights Come From?
Northern Lights first came out in the Netherlands, and while the exact location is contested, it reveals its lineage from Afghani and Thai landrace strains, known for their potency.
Why is it called Northern Lights?
The strain’s unmatched euphoric and blissful high gives it the name of northern lights because it’s as exhilarating as the experience of watching the Northern Lights.
What Strains Are Similar To Northern Lights?
Since Northern Lights is an indica dominant strain, you should go for strain with similar properties. These include:
- Afghani.
- Thai.
- Silver Haze.
- Superglue.
When Did Northern Lights Come Out?
Northern Lights first came out in the 1970s and was popularized by a guy named Neville when he founded the seed Bank of Holland in 1980.
Some people also claim its origin in Seattle, Washington, later popularised and established a cult following.
How Does Northern Lights Make You Feel?
Northern Lights makes you feel a strong head high with a calming bodily sensation.
Like its name, northern lights are one of the most incredible experiences any Cannabis enthusiast can hope for.
The extremely blissful and euphoric high relaxes the entire body and puts it into an intense trance-like state.
Like other Indica strains, while this does put you in an all-around feel-good experience, it also heightens your appetite.
Is Northern Lights Indica or Sativa?
Northern lights is strictly a pure Indica strain containing little to no Sativa. So don’t expect to feel upbeat and energetic after this, bud. Instead, get in the mood for a happy, calm, and relaxing mood.
If you are looking for more Sativa dominant strains, try Sour Diesel or Silver Haze.
What is Northern Lights THC level?
The THC level in Northern lights is 18 % THC on average, reaching up to as high as 22%. But that usually depends on the quality of the bud you are getting.
What is Northern Lights CBD level?
Northern Lights CBD level is almost non-existent less than 1 percent, making its effect negligible.
Is Northern Lights Strong?
Northern Lights is a very strong strain that gives you a very long-lasting and extremely inducive high. Its effects are euphoric and blissful. This is considered to be one of the more psychedelic buds available.
It is not recommended for first-time users as they might get overwhelmed by the intense couch-locking effects. However, this is a must-try for any veteran smoker.
Is Northern Lights Top Shelf?
Northern Lights is one of the most top-shelf weed strains you can find as it is one of the most potent and intense experiences available to weed smokers.
However, poorly grown Northern Lights will not be considered top-shelf.
Is Northern Lights A Bad Strain?
By no means is Northern Lights a bad strain as it is incredibly high quality in taste, smell, and experience.
However, its intense Indica properties and couch-locking effects may induce paranoia or anxiety for beginners, so beginners should steer clear of this strain and opt for a milder version, like Purple Haze.
Is Northern Lights Exotic?
Northern Lights is not an exotic strain because it is readily available at local dispensaries and widely grown around Washington.
What Does Northern Lights Taste Like?
Northern Lights has one of the most distinct and tastes like pine and earth on the inhale.
However, upon exhaling, it reveals its sweet and smooth candy-like smoke, a delightful combination especially great for a late-night smoke. You also might experience citrus undertones.
What Does Northern Lights Smell like?
Uses will experience a powerful and pungent smell from northern lights. It has a delightful aroma of wood resin and pine that transports you into a beautiful woodland experience. Its aroma is much similar to traditional ganja.
Does Northern Lights Smell like Gas?
Northern Lights does not contain a strong chemical smell that creates the effect of smelling like gasoline. Instead, it has a very earthy and herbal scent that is more natural than chemicals.
Why are Northern Lights So Popular?
Northern Lights is so popular because it is one of the most well-respected and well-known Indica strains available.
It provides a one-of-a-kind smoking experience and specific sedative effects. Plus, Northern Lights is the parent of many famous strains in the market right now, including Sour Diesel.
Is Northern Lights the same as OG Kush?
OG Kush and Northern Lights are much different in their effects and taste. Northern Lights is a more coming and smoother experience than OG Kush, which has a more powerful and immediate impact.
Northern Lights Grow Info
Northern Lights is an easy strain to grow for beginners and is a resilient strain resistant to mold and powdery mildew.
It prefers warmer climates and can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but its shorter, denser plants are more suitable for growing indoors.
In addition, it takes little time to flower as compared to other strains, usually 7-8 weeks and can be harvested in mid to late September.
Northern Lights follows the same growing process as most strains, so I’d recommend reading our step by step guide to growing cannabis.
Northern Lights Grow FAQS
Here are common queries that cannabis growers might have regarding Northern Lights:
How Much Does Northern Lights Yield?
Northern lights have pretty high yields for both indoor and outdoor options.
The outdoors yield usually comes out to about 2 to 3 ounces (550 g) per plant While the indoor comes out to about 1 to 2 Ounces per square foot.
Is Northern Lights Easy To Grow?
Northern Lights is considered one of the easiest strains to grow due to their high resistance to molds and insects alike.
Moreover, it only takes a short man to grow and does not require any complicated methods of upkeep and maintenance.
Therefore, this is recommended for beginner growers looking to cultivate a plan that would give them a very niche and lucrative market.
How Long Does Northern Lights Take to Grow?
Northern Lights has a flowering period of only 7-8 weeks when grown indoors.
Outdoors you should expect the buds to appear in mid to late September.
How Tall Does Northern Lights Grow?
Northern lights plants are moderately tall, and they can grow up to 60 to 80 inches indoors or 90 inches when grown outdoors.
Is Northern Lights Mold Resistant?
Northern life is highly mold resistant.
That’s why it is much easier to grow because its buds do not hold much moisture, which does not allow mold or powdery mildew to penetrate and cause damage to the flowers.
This makes it exceptionally easy to grow and maintain.
When Should You Harvest Northern Lights?
Northern lights are valuable to harvest after about 65 days when grown indoors.
They may require additional time to finish; however, they will never go beyond mid-September.
You should check the color of trichomes for your desired experience:
Clear = too early
Cloudy = head high, (Sativa)
Amber = couchlock/body high (Indica)
Does Northern Lights Turn Purple?
The northern lights strain tends to go purple due to inappropriate nutrient levels.
However, this should not be an issue as if it’s harvested at the proper time, they should not worry.
How Does Northern Lights Compare To Other Strains?
Let’s look at how Northern Lights compare to other popular marijuana strains:
Northern Lights vs. Northern Lights Haze
While Northern Lights is a pure Indica strain with calming sedating effects, Northern Lights Haze is a 70% Sativa known for stimulating cerebral high and uplifting effects.
In addition, Northern Lights has higher levels of THC (up to 33%) compared to NTH’s 19%.
In terms of taste and smell, Northern Lights Haze has a spicy, earthy taste and smell, while Northern Lights has a piney aroma and a sweet, candy-like smoke on the exhale.
Both strains are relatively easy to grow but vary in terms of yield. NTH produces small yields ( 5 ounces per plant), while Northern Lights produces higher yields (17 ounces).
Northern Lights vs. Bubba Kush
Both Northern Lights and Bubba Kush are Indica dominant strains, but Northern Lights has higher levels of THC ( up to 33%), providing sedating, couch-locking effects to the user.
This makes these strains suitable for relieving pain, anxiety, stress, or chronic fatigue.
Northern Lights has a pungent, sweet, and spicy flavor, while Bubba Kush is known for its hashy aroma with hints of chocolate or coffee on the aftertaste.
Due to its Indica properties, Northern Lights is a relatively easy strain to grow and produces moderate yields of around 17 ounces per plant outdoors.
Similarly, Bubba Kush is a hardy strain and not that difficult to grow properly.
It also produces decent yields of up to 15 ounces per plant.
Check out my full Bubba Kush Strain Review (& Grow Guide)
Northern Lights vs. Grape Ape
Both Northern Lights and Grape Ape are Indica-dominant strains with high THC content ( ranging from 19-30%) that contribute to their similar couch-locking, calming, and euphoric effects on the body.
So, you can use these strains to relieve symptoms of anxiety, pain, and insomnia.
In terms of flavor and aroma, Northern Lights is earthy and spicy, while Grape Ape is sweet, with hints of berry and grape.
Both strains are relatively easy to grow and thrive indoors due to their short height and dense flowers.
They also offer moderate yields of up to 17 ounces per square meter.
Northern lights vs. God’s Gift
Grand Daddy Purple and Northern Lights are epic Indica strains that people typically use to combat stress, pain, and fatigue.
They are high in THC levels ( up to 305), and both strains provide a couch-locking, calming high with an intense sleepy feeling on the afterburn.
Northern Lights has a spicy, earthy aroma in terms of taste and smell, while Grand Daddy Purple has a sweet, candy flavor with hints of berry or grape.
Moreover, both strains are relatively easier to grow due to their short height and dense flowers.
Both strains take 8-9 weeks to flower and thrive better indoors.
They also produce similar yields of up to 17-19 ounces per square meter.
Northern lights vs. Grand Daddy Purple
Grand Daddy Purple and Northern Lights are epic Indica strains that people typically use to combat stress, pain, and fatigue.
They are high in THC levels ( up to 305), and both strains provide a couch-locking, calming high with an intense sleepy feeling on the afterburn.
Northern Lights has a spicy, earthy aroma in terms of taste and smell, while Grand Daddy Purple has a sweet, candy flavor with hints of berry or grape.
Moreover, both strains are relatively easier to grow due to their short height and dense flowers.
Both strains take 8-9 weeks to flower and thrive better indoors. They also produce similar yields of up to 17-19 ounces per square meter.
Check out my full Granddaddy Purple Strain Review (& Grow Guide)