Northern Lights Strain Review & Growing Guide
If you’re looking for a classic strain that offers both medicinal and recreational benefits, Northern Lights may be the right choice for you. This strain is a pure Indica born from the crossing of Afghan and Thai landraces. It produces a potent, relaxing smoke that can help you unwind.
Northern Lights has a unique aroma and flavor that combines earthy, sweet, and spicy notes, with a smooth and pleasant aftertaste. Her buds are dense and covered in sticky resin, making them ideal for extraction.
Whether you consume it medicinally or for pleasure, Northern Lights is a strain that never disappoints. Its calming effects and pleasant flavor make it the right choice to improve mood and senses.
Northern Lights Strain Effects
Northern Lights strain is a relaxing and soothing companion that provides real relaxation, as expected from a clear indica. It’s powerful heavy-body high induces a desire to sink into your couch and stay there, feeling tucked in and comfortable.
This strain can bring out happy and positive thoughts and can help you forget about anything that may have been bothering you before taking a puff. If you’re having trouble sleeping, NL is the perfect strain for you. Its gentle yet uplifting effects will help you fall into a restful slumber.
Northern Lights Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic compounds that provide cannabis with its unique smell and taste. They have different effects on the body and mind, depending on their type and concentration. NL strain is famous for its rich and diverse terpene profile, making it one of the most flavorful and aromatic strains on the market.
Dominant terpene:
| Terpene | Characteristics |
| Myrcene | earthy, musky, fruity, clover, hop, pungent |
The dominant terpene in the NL is myrcene, known for its sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. It can help with pain relief, insomnia, and stress.
Secondary terpenes:
| Terpene | Characteristics |
| Caryophyllene | spicy, cinnamon, clover |
| D-Limonene | citrus, lemon, orange, tangerine |
| Terpinolene | fresh, smoky, wood, herbal, citrus, floral |
| Phellandrene | mint, lime, citrus, herbal, floral, wood |
The secondary terpenes present in the Northern Lights include caryophyllene, D-limonene, terpinolene, and phellandrene.
- Caryophyllene is the second most abundant terpene in NL, and it interacts with cannabinoid receptors in the body, enhancing the effects of THC and CBD. It also has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-anxiety properties.
- D-limonene is another prominent terpene in the NL, known for its mood-enhancing and stress-relieving properties. It can also boost the immune system and help fight against infections.
- Terpinolene is a minor terpene in the NL, with calming and relaxing properties. It also acts as an antibacterial and antioxidant agent.
- Phellandrene is another minor terpene in the NL, with stimulating and uplifting properties. It can also help with respiratory issues and inflammation.
Best Northern Lights Strain To Buy
Aroma & Flavor
Northern Lights has a unique aroma that is characterized by sweet and spicy notes, accompanied by a hint of bitter lime. Although some people have reported detecting a slight ammonia smell in this strain, the citrus undertones make it quite refreshing to smell.
When it comes to flavor, Northern Lights is quite robust and skunky, without being overwhelming. It has a subtle mix of fresh pine and earthy tones with a touch of sweetness. Additionally, when smoked, a hint of lemon can be tasted, and it may leave a pleasant dank flavor in your mouth afterward.
Adverse Reactions
Northern Lights is a popular choice among indica enthusiasts due to its minimal adverse effects. Though it can cause a feeling of being stuck in one place at times, it is rarely associated with feelings of paranoia. This strain can be purchased at most dispensaries.
While it is uncommon for users or growers of NL to experience dizziness or headaches, it can happen. The most commonly reported adverse effects are dry mouth, dry eyes, and a sensation of dehydration.
Medical Benefits
Northern Lights is a highly recommended medical cannabis strain known for its excellent medicinal properties. It is popular among people who want to treat physical pain and mental instability. Its uplifting personality helps relieve mood swings and depression.
Due to its CBD content and indica dominance, Northern Lights is also very effective in treating pain. It can ease cramps and pains caused by conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, PMS, muscle spasms, and more.
People who suffer from mental conditions have also benefited from this strain. NL can help alleviate symptoms and side effects of OCD, social anxiety disorder, general anxiety, and PTSD. It is a potent relaxant and can induce sleep in those who suffer from insomnia and restlessness.
It has also been found useful in treating cancer patients who have lost their appetite due to radiology and chemotherapy. NL can help alleviate nausea and successfully curb hunger.
Northern Lights Strain Grow Info
Growing Northern Lights plants can be a challenge, but with proper techniques, it is possible to achieve amazing results. Here are some tips to help you grow Northern Lights plants at their best:
1. Create The Ideal Environment:
For optimal growth, Northern Lights plants require warm and sunny climates with daytime temperatures ranging between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant’s bud production can slow down, and it may become vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Cold temperatures can cause the leaves and buds to display hues of blue and purple, but that is not ideal for the plant’s growth.
To ensure the best outcome, you should maintain a humidity level of at least 60% when growing seedlings and during the vegetative stage. However, once the plant begins to flower, you should gradually reduce the humidity by 5% per week.
2. Choose A Growing Medium:
Soil is the simplest and most economical growing medium for most growers. Organic soil produces tastier buds than soilless media. Choose a soil mix with a pH between 6.2 and 6.7.
3. Light:
Lighting is key when growing cannabis. Northern Lights requires 18 hours of light per day to stay in the vegetative growth stage. When exposure is reduced to 12 hours of light per day, this strain will enter the flowering phase.
Keep plants in the vegetative growth period for at least five weeks to ensure considerable yield. Metal halide or high-pressure sodium lights are powerful but not energy efficient. LED lights are highly energy efficient and produce less heat than metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights.
4. Training:
This strain of cannabis is known to have a high yield, but growers can employ various high-stress and low-stress training methods to increase the yield further.
Techniques such as topping or super cropping can redirect the energy of the plants to the lower branches, resulting in the formation of multiple colas. Twisting and pinching the branches can help increase their size and strength, making them capable of supporting the weight of the large buds.
Additionally, pruning the plants can enable light to reach the lower bud sites, thus increasing the yield even more. It is crucial to avoid removing too many leaves since it can hamper growth. Hence, a gentle touch is recommended while pruning.
5. Feeding:
The Northern Lights is a plant that requires a broad range of nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for optimal growth. Smaller amounts of calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, as well as trace amounts of boron, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc, are also necessary.
The pH of nutrient mixes should be adjusted to ensure optimal nutrient uptake. Overfeeding plants can lead to leaf scorch and decreased quality and yield of the final product.
Most high-quality soil mixes contain enough nutrients to nourish plants for three to four weeks, and after that, growers need to feed the plants with liquid fertilizers or dry amendments.
6. Watering:
Watering is crucial for the growth and survival of plants, but providing too much water can be harmful to their roots. Overwatering can deprive roots of oxygen, leading to root rot, which can stunt or kill the plant.
Keep the growing medium moist but not overly wet to ensure healthy growth. You can check if plants need water by lifting the container. If it feels light, they need water. Alternatively, stick a finger into the top of the soil. If it’s moist and spongy, the plants don’t need additional water.
7. Pest and Diseases Prevention:
To prevent pests and diseases from affecting NL, make sure the growing area is clean and well-ventilated. Keep humidity below 50% during the late flowering period to avoid powdery mildew and bud rot.
Pruning can help increase air circulation. Use foliar sprays like neem oil, insecticidal soap, baking soda, and aqueous solutions during the vegetative and early flowering periods to stop infestations.
Northern Lights Strain Flowering Time
Indoors
Northern Lights typically flower in 7-9 weeks, though it can be harvested as early as 7 weeks.
Outdoors
When grown in its preferred sunny climate on the West Coast, this strain can produce a generous harvest and is typically ready for harvest in mid-October. Outdoor flowering time ranges from 7 to 9 weeks.
Northern Lights Yield
Indoors, this Indica-dominant landrace seed can yield an average of 18 ounces per square meter in a healthy indoor environment. Outdoors, the estimated yield is up to 22 ounces per plant.
Northern Lights Origin
Northern Lights is one of the oldest and most influential strains in the history of cannabis. It is believed to have been created in the 1970s by a grower called “The Indian” in the Seattle area of the United States. His goal was to create a pure indica strain, with a high THC content and fast flowering. To do this, he crossed two genetics from Afghanistan and Thailand, obtaining a robust, compact, and productive plant.
In the 1980s, Northern Lights arrived in Holland, where it was perfected by Nevil Schoenmakers, the founder of the first cannabis seed bank, The Seed Bank (later to become Sensi Seeds). Nevil selected the best Northern Lights plants and stabilized them in several numbered versions, from NL #1 to NL #11. The most famous and appreciated is NL #5, which is considered the mother of many other cannabis strains, such as Super Silver Haze, Shiva Skunk, and Jack Herer.
FAQs about Northern Lights Weed Strain
Indoor growers can expect to harvest about 18 ounces of buds per square meter of space, while outdoor growers can get more than 22 ounces per plant.
Northern Lights has a high THC content of about 18%.
The Northern Lights marijuana strain is widely recognized for its potential therapeutic benefits, particularly in alleviating symptoms associated with insomnia, stress, pain, and depression.
However, it is important to note that it can also cause some negative effects, such as dry mouth and eyes, dizziness, paranoia, and headaches. The intensity of these side effects may vary depending on the amount consumed, the individual’s tolerance levels, and their unique physiological response.
If you want to grow Northern Lights plants at their best, it is important to use proper techniques. Here are some tips that can help:
- Provide an ideal environment: Northern Lights grows best in a warm, sunny climate with 70-80°F daytime temperatures. During flowering, make sure the humidity level is below 50% to prevent mold and fungus.
- Use soil: It is the most economical option for most growers. Organic soil produces tastier buds than soilless media. Choose a soil mix with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Provide the right amount of light: Northern Lights require 18 hours of light per day for vegetative growth and 12 hours of light to enter the flowering phase. Keeping them in vegetative growth for five weeks will result in a good yield.
- Train them: To increase the yield, use high-stress and low-stress training methods such as topping, super cropping, twisting and pinching the branches, and pruning. However, it is recommended to avoid removing too many leaves and to be gentle while pruning to avoid stalling growth.
- Provide nutrients: The NL plant needs a variety of nutrients for optimal growth. Nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and some trace elements are necessary. The pH level of nutrient mixes should be adjusted. Overfeeding can lead to leaf scorch and decreased quality. High-quality soil mixes have enough nutrients for 3-4 weeks, after which plants need liquid fertilizers or dry amendments.
- Water them properly: Watering is crucial for plants, but too much water can harm their roots. Keep the soil moist, but not overly wet. Water only when the soil has dried.
- Protect them from pests and diseases: Maintain a clean, well-ventilated growing area. Keep humidity below 50% in the late flowering stage to avoid mildew and rot. Prune for better airflow and use foliar sprays like neem oil, insecticidal soap, baking soda, and aqueous solutions during the vegetative and early flowering periods to prevent infestations.
NL is an Indica dominant strain, with a Sativa/Indica ratio of approximately 10:90%.
Northern Lights has a strong and pungent taste, but not overly intense. It has a refreshing flavor of pine and earth, with a touch of sweetness. When smoked, you may also detect a subtle hint of lemon and it could leave a pleasant dank flavor in your mouth afterwards.
NL is a marijuana strain that is highly resistant to mold and pests, however, taking preventative measures such as using organic pesticides and ensuring adequate ventilation can help avoid any possible problems.
Northern Lights Strain Info:
Characteristics:
- Genetics: Afghani Indica x Thai Sativa
- Variety: 10% Sativa 90% Indica
- Sex: Feminized seeds
- THC: 18%
- CBD: 0.10%
- CBG: 1%
- Climate: Sunny Mediterranean climate
- Difficulty: Easy to grow
- Yield High: indoor 18 oz/m2, outdoors 22 oz/plant
- Flowering: indoor 7-9 weeks, outdoor mid-October
- Taste & Smell: Earthy, sweet, pine, spicy, lemon, skunk
- Effect: Relaxed, happy, euphoric, sleepy, uplifted
- Medical uses: Stress, pain, insomnia, depression, lack of appetite
Northern Lights Pictures:
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ILGM Fertilizer
- From seedling to harvest, give your plants everything they need.
- Enough for feeding at least 5 plants.
- Discounted Package Deal.
- Works well in soil, hydroponics, and other growing mediums.
- The best way to treat your plants
ILGM Plant Protector
- Protect your cannabis from diseases and harmful pests.
- Contains three 20 ml bottles.
- Enough supplies to protect 20 plants.
- It can be used in soil, hydroponic, and all other growing mediums.
