Northern Lights Strain Regular SeedsOld-school Northern Lights with males, for breeding and selection
5.00 out of 5 · 4 reviewsThe Northern Lights strain is the Afghani-based indica that helped build the Dutch seed trade in the 1980s, and in regular form it comes the way breeders first worked with it: as male and female seeds. Expect roughly half of the seedlings to show male flowers. That suits growers who want to make their own Northern Lights crosses or search the females for a keeper mother, but it means sexing every plant before bloom.
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What is the Northern Lights strain?
Northern Lights is a classic indica of about 90% indica from Afghani and Thai landrace roots, and these regular seeds grow both male and female plants, roughly half of each. The line traces to the US Pacific Northwest and was refined in the Netherlands in the 1980s, where it became a parent of many later hybrids. Its females flower in about 7 to 9 weeks under 12/12, stay fairly compact and test around 15–21% THC.
Sensi Seeds' figure for its regular Northern Lights.
Northern Lights #5 went into Shiva Skunk and Northern Lights #5 × Haze, which is a big reason breeders still want male and female Northern Lights seeds.
Northern Lights strain specs
Most Northern Lights numbers here come from Sensi Seeds' regular listing, checked against SeedFinder and the Leafly, AllBud and Weedmaps strain pages. Regular and feminized seeds of the line grow the same plant, but in a regular pack only the females make harvestable buds, so the crop from a pack depends on how many seedlings turn out female.
| Type | Indica, about 90% / 10% sativa on Sensi's listing |
|---|---|
| Genetics | Afghani-based indica with Thai landrace influence; several numbered plants (NL #1, #2, #5) sit behind the modern line |
| Bred by | Original grower unknown (Pacific Northwest, USA); taken to the Netherlands by Nevil Schoenmakers' Seed Bank in the mid-1980s; Sensi Seeds since 1991 |
| THC | Roughly 15–21%; Leafly's typical figure is about 18% |
| CBD | Low (the breeder lists none) |
| Main terpenes | Myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene |
| Aroma & flavor | Musky, sweet and earthy, with pine, spice and a honeyed finish |
| Reported effects | Deep body relaxation, a calm mind, sleepy at higher doses |
| Seed type | Regular (male and female plants, about 50/50) |
|---|---|
| Flowering indoors | 45–50 days per Sensi; 7–9 weeks is typical across other lines |
| Outdoor harvest | Late September to early October (Northern Hemisphere) |
| Height | Sensi lists 80–130 cm indoors and up to 2 m (about 6.5 ft) in a garden |
| Yield | About 500 g/m² (1.6 oz/ft²) from the females indoors; Sensi says some outdoor growers report up to 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) per plant |
| Difficulty | Easy plant; sexing adds a step |
| Best methods | Mother plants and cuttings, breeding projects, sea of green |
| Climate | Indoors year-round, or warm, sunny summers outdoors |
Where does the Northern Lights strain come from?
Northern Lights comes from Afghani indica seed stock grown in the US Pacific Northwest, reportedly near Seattle in the late 1970s, with a Thai landrace adding a small sativa share. Nobody kept breeding records at the time, so the early story rests on accounts repeated by SeedFinder and others. The next step is better documented: Nevil Schoenmakers, who founded The Seed Bank in the Netherlands in 1984, is reported to have acquired the line around 1985.
In the Netherlands the line was worked as a set of numbered plants, and Northern Lights #5 became the famous one. The Seed Bank released Northern Lights #5 × Skunk #1 in 1987, later renamed Shiva Skunk, and Nevil's Northern Lights #5 × Haze became a famous hybrid in its own right. Sensi Seeds bought The Seed Bank in 1991 and still sells regular Northern Lights, the seed type those early crosses were made from.
Why do breeders buy regular Northern Lights seeds?
Breeders buy regular Northern Lights seeds because they are the only way to get true male plants of the line. A selected male can pollinate another strain and pass on Northern Lights' short bloom, compact frame and dense, resinous buds, the same traits that put it behind Shiva Skunk and the NL #5 × Haze cross. A regular pack also shows natural variation between plants, which helps growers who want to pick one female and keep her as a mother for cuttings.
Keep males apart. One open male can seed every female in the room, so move a breeding male to a separate space and collect its pollen there.
What does Northern Lights taste like, and how does it feel?
Aroma and flavor
Northern Lights smells musky, sweet and earthy, and its smoke tastes rich and sweet, according to Sensi Seeds, with herbal notes and a hint of honey. AllBud users add pine, spice and wood.
- Musky
- Sweet
- Earthy
- Honey
- Pine
- Wood
Terpenes
- Myrcene
- Musky, earthy depth
- Caryophyllene
- Black-pepper warmth
- Limonene
- A light citrus edge
Leafly names these three as Northern Lights' main terpenes; the balance shifts from plant to plant.
Reported effects
Northern Lights is most often described as deeply relaxing, with a strong body effect, a calm, quiet head and sleepiness at higher doses. Sensi Seeds calls the effect potent and heady, and Leafly users also list hunger among its effects.
- Relaxed
- Sleepy
- Calm
- Happy
- Hungry
Users of Northern Lights most often report dry mouth and dry eyes, and a few mention dizziness or feeling too sedated for daytime plans.
These Northern Lights reports come from Leafly, AllBud and Weedmaps users plus Sensi Seeds' description. Responses vary from person to person, and nothing here is medical advice.
How do you grow Northern Lights seeds?
Regular Northern Lights seeds grow easily, but you have to sex them: sprout more seeds than the females you need, veg until pre-flowers show, remove or isolate the males, then flower the females for about 7 to 9 weeks under 12/12.
- Germinate3–7 days
Sow roughly twice as many Northern Lights seeds as the females you want, since about half of them will turn out male.
- Vegetate4–6 weeks
Watch the nodes from week 4. Male Northern Lights plants form small round pollen sacs on short stalks; females form a pointed calyx with white hairs.
- Flower7–9 weeks
Remove or isolate the males before their sacs open, then give the females 12/12. If you are hunting for a mother, take a cutting from each female first.
- HarvestLate Sep–early Oct outdoors
Cut when most trichomes have turned cloudy. Dense Northern Lights buds dry slowly, so hang them where air moves freely.
Grow tips for Northern Lights
- Sex early with a loupe. Pre-flowers on young Northern Lights plants are tiny at first, so inspect the nodes every few days from week 4 of veg.
- Clone before you flip. Take a labeled cutting from each Northern Lights female during veg. After harvest, keep the cutting of the best plant as your mother.
- Choose males on structure. For breeding, pick a Northern Lights male with sturdy branches, short spacing between nodes and early flowers, then finish it in isolation.
- Store pollen dry and cold. Collect a chosen Northern Lights male's pollen on clean paper, let it dry, and keep it sealed in the fridge until the target female is ready.
- Control the harvest aroma. Sensi Seeds says Northern Lights smells very little while growing, but its musky, sweet scent builds near harvest, so a carbon filter pays off.
- Outdoors, finish before autumn rain. Northern Lights' short bloom ends in late September or early October, which keeps its dense flowers ahead of wet weather in many regions.
Is Northern Lights the right strain for you?
Great pick if you
- Want to breed with a proven indica parent
- Plan to grow out a pack and pick a keeper mother
- Like the classic earthy, sweet indica profile
- Have room to start extra seedlings and remove males
Think twice if you
- Want every seed to become a bud-producing plant (choose feminized)
- Have no time to check pre-flowers every few days
- Want an energetic daytime sativa
- Only have space for one or two plants
Northern Lights strain FAQ
What does regular mean for Northern Lights seeds?
Regular Northern Lights seeds are not feminized, so each one can grow into a male or a female plant, at roughly a 50/50 split. Only the females produce buds; males are removed before they release pollen or kept apart for breeding.
How do I tell male from female Northern Lights plants?
After about 4 to 6 weeks of veg, look where the side branches meet the main stem. Males form small, round sacs on short stalks that later open to drop pollen. Females form a teardrop-shaped calyx with white hairs. Remove males once you are sure.
Who bred Northern Lights?
The original Northern Lights grower is unknown. Accounts place the first plants in the US Pacific Northwest in the 1970s. Nevil Schoenmakers took the line to the Netherlands in the mid-1980s to sell through The Seed Bank; Sensi Seeds took over that company in 1991.
Is Northern Lights indica or sativa?
Northern Lights is an indica. Sensi Seeds rates the line 90/10 in favor of indica, with Afghani landrace genetics and a touch of Thai sativa. The plants grow short to medium with dense buds, and the reported effect is calm and body-heavy.
What strains come from Northern Lights?
Northern Lights #5 is a parent of Shiva Skunk (Northern Lights #5 × Skunk #1, released in 1987) and of Northern Lights #5 × Haze, and it sits in the family tree of Super Silver Haze. Its short bloom and compact frame are the traits breeders usually want from it.
How long does Northern Lights take to flower?
Northern Lights females flower for about 7 to 9 weeks once the lights go to 12/12. Sensi Seeds lists 45–50 days, one of the shortest blooms among classic photoperiods. Outdoors the plants are ready between late September and early October.
How much THC does Northern Lights have?
Strain databases put Northern Lights at roughly 15% to 21% THC, with Leafly's typical figure near 18%. CBD is low. Exact potency depends on the plant you select, the light it gets and when you harvest.
How much does Northern Lights yield?
Sensi Seeds lists about 500 g/m² indoors and says some outdoor growers report up to 1.5 kg per plant in ideal conditions. With regular seeds only the female plants count, so plan your plant numbers after sexing.
Northern Lights reviews
5.00 out of 5 from 4 reviews
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4 reviews for Northern Lights Strain Regular Marijuana Seeds
Northern Lights' family and offspring
Afghani Regular
Skunk #1 Feminized
Northern Lights Feminized
Super Silver Haze FeminizedBeaver Seeds sells cannabis seeds for collection and genetic preservation where permitted. Check the laws in your state, province or country before germinating seeds. Effects are user-reported and are not medical claims.
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Leonard Woods –
However, growing it was an absolute success! I am forward to place my next order with you! I feel like my depression is getting better as I continue to smoke it. The smoke is strongly scented with wood and pine. Without a doubt, this is the greatest cannabis I’ve ever smoked.
Gutts (verified owner) –
Support an shipping excellent waiting for summer best regards an health
Julian Williams –
VERY EPIC! The physical effects brought by a high THC level were outstanding! I could always feels calm and relaxed the whole time. As I keep smoking it, I think my depression is fading away. For the smoke, it has a strong smell of pines and wood. Growing it was a 100% success, though! I can’t wait for my other order here!
Ramsey R. –
Hands down this by far is the best weed I’ve smoked. This tree really is easy peasy! It releases all of your blocks from your mind and throughout your body. Your thoughts just flow to you effortlessly. And the relief of my back pain almost made tears of joy come up. I couldn’t feel any pain whatsoever (chronic back pain from injury). Doesn’t feel like an indica at all. I’m a sativa guy. I need more of this in my life.