Northern Lights Seeds

How to Shape Northern Lights Plants?

Shaping Northern Lights plants? Alright, buckle up—this isn’t your average “trim three leaves and call it a day” kind of deal. These girls grow bushy. Like, dense, squat, Christmas-tree-on-steroids bushy. You let them do their thing untouched, and you’ll end up with a tangled mess of fan leaves choking out your light. No bueno.

First off—top early. Like, week 3 or 4 of veg, snip that main stem. Don’t be shy. You’re not hurting her, you’re helping her. That one cut? It changes everything. Forces her to split her energy sideways instead of up. Suddenly, you’ve got two mains instead of one. Then four. Then eight. It spirals. In a good way.

Now, low stress training (LST)—that’s your bread and butter. Gently bend those branches outward, tie them down with soft wire or even old shoelaces if you’re broke and improvising. I’ve used twist ties and guitar strings. Whatever. Just don’t snap anything. You’re guiding, not wrestling. Think bonsai, not WWE.

She responds fast. Within a day or two, you’ll see the tops reaching back toward the light like nothing happened. That’s when you know you’re doing it right. Keep spreading her open like a book. Let the light hit every damn node. You want popcorn buds? No? Then don’t let the lower growth sit in the dark.

Defoliation—controversial topic. Some folks swear by it, others act like it’s plant murder. Me? I strip the big fan leaves once the canopy gets crowded. Not all at once, not a massacre. Just enough to let air and light move through. If you’re sweating in your tent, your plants probably are too.

Also—don’t forget the stretch. Northern Lights doesn’t go crazy in flower, but she’ll still double in size if you’re not careful. So plan ahead. Shape her wide and flat during veg, like a damn solar panel. That way when she stretches, she fills out instead of shooting up like a beanpole.

And topping during flower? Don’t. Just don’t. That’s like changing the tires during a race. Too late. Let her ride it out. Any shaping should be done before the flip. After that, it’s all about support—stakes, nets, whatever keeps those fat colas from flopping over like drunk flamingos.

One last thing—every plant’s got her own vibe. Some Northern Lights phenos are more indica-heavy, others lean a little sativa. Watch how she grows. Listen. Yeah, I know that sounds woo-woo, but seriously—pay attention. She’ll tell you what she wants. You just gotta shut up and look.

Anyway, that’s how I do it. Not gospel, just experience. Try stuff. Screw up. Learn. That’s the fun part.