Climatic Considerations for Growing Northern Lights

Growing Northern Lights isn’t rocket science, but it sure as hell isn’t a walk in the park either—especially if you don’t know what kind of weather she likes. This strain, this old-school indica legend, doesn’t want to be messed with. She’s picky. Not dramatic, just... selective. You give her the wrong climate, she’ll sulk. Or worse—mold out and die on you. Seen it happen. Sad stuff.

So here’s the deal: Northern Lights was practically built for indoor grows. That’s her comfort zone. Controlled temps, no surprises. But if you’re stubborn (or just broke) and want to grow her outside, you better live somewhere that doesn’t get too wet or too cold. Think Mediterranean vibes. Dry air, warm days, cool-ish nights. Not too cool though. She hates frost. Like, absolutely hates it. One frost snap and boom—game over. Bud rot, leaf wilt, heartbreak.

Humidity? Keep it low. Seriously. She's got these fat, dense buds that trap moisture like a sponge. If your summer’s sticky and wet, you’re basically inviting mold to a buffet. And once mold sets in, good luck saving anything. You’ll be trimming off gray fuzz like a barber with the flu. It’s gross. It smells weird. It ruins everything.

Now—temperature swings. Some strains can handle ‘em. Northern Lights? Not so much. She likes consistency. Day temps around 70-85°F (21-29°C), nights not dipping below 60°F (15°C). If your climate’s got wild mood swings—hot one day, freezing the next—don’t even bother. She’ll stress, herm out, or just stop growing altogether. Like a diva with stage fright.

And light—oh man, light matters. Outdoors, she needs a full season. None of that half-assed, cloudy, short-summer nonsense. You need solid sun, long days, and a predictable fall. She finishes fast, sure, but not that fast. If your autumns come early with rain and gloom, you’re gonna be harvesting early and crying into your trichomes.

I’ve seen people try to grow her in the Pacific Northwest. Bold move. Some pull it off with greenhouses and dehumidifiers and prayers. Most don’t. She’s not built for soggy Septembers. You want to grow her outside? Try California. Spain. Maybe southern Oregon if you’re lucky and the weather gods are kind.

Honestly, if you’re not sure about your climate, just grow her indoors. She thrives under LEDs, doesn’t stretch too much, and finishes quick. Like 7-9 weeks quick. That’s rare. She’s compact, quiet, and smells sweet—almost too sweet. Like candy and pine had a baby. But don’t let that fool you. She hits hard. Couch-lock, time-warp, snack-raid hard.

Anyway. Climate matters. Don’t ignore it. Northern Lights is forgiving in some ways, but she won’t tolerate being cold, wet, or neglected. She’s like that one friend who’s chill until they’re not—then it’s drama and damage control. So give her what she wants. Or don’t grow her at all.