Northern Lights Feeding Schedule by Growth Stage
Feeding Northern Lights is like raising a stubborn, beautiful teenager—low-maintenance on the surface, but if you screw up the timing, she’ll throw a fit. This strain’s got old-school genetics, Afghan roots, and a reputation for being chill to grow. But don’t let that fool you. She’s picky when it comes to nutes. Not dramatic, just... precise. Like, she won’t scream, but she’ll sulk. Yellow leaves, stunted growth, all that passive-aggressive plant behavior.
So let’s break it down by stage. Not some sterile chart—just what works, what doesn’t, and what might get you yelled at by your plants.
Seedling Stage (Week 0-2)
Don’t feed her. Seriously. Just don’t. She doesn’t want it. You give her nutrients now, you’re basically force-feeding a newborn steak. Keep it light—pH’d water (5.8-6.2), maybe a drop of seaweed extract if you’re feeling fancy. But mostly? Leave her alone. Let her stretch her legs.
Veg Stage (Week 3-6ish)
Now she’s hungry. Not ravenous, but she’s definitely poking around the fridge. Start with a light veg formula—something like 2-1-2 NPK. Go at 25-50% strength first week, then bump it up if she’s handling it. Watch the leaf tips. Burnt tips? Back off. Pale leaves? She’s starving. It’s a dance, not a checklist.
By week 5, she’s usually ready for more. I’ve seen some growers push up to 800 ppm, but I keep it around 600-700. She doesn’t need to bulk up like a bodybuilder—just stay lean and strong. Cal-Mag? Yeah, probably. Especially if you’re running coco or RO water. Don’t wait for the rust spots to show up. Be proactive. Or don’t. Your call.
Pre-Flower (Week 6-7)
This is the weird in-between. She’s stretching, hormones are going nuts, and she’s not sure what she wants. Ease off the nitrogen a bit—switch to something like 3-4-4. Still feeding, but less green, more bloom prep. You’ll see pistils start popping. That’s your cue to shift gears.
Flowering Stage (Week 8-14)
Here’s where people screw it up. They think more food = more buds. Nah. Northern Lights doesn’t like to be overfed in flower. She’ll get bloated, lose flavor, and the high gets weird. Start with a bloom formula—low N, higher P and K. Something like 1-4-5. Keep ppm around 700-900 early flower, then maybe edge up to 1000 if she’s thriving. But don’t force it. She’ll tell you what she wants. Or she won’t. That’s the game.
Mid-flower (weeks 4-6), she’s in full swing. Resin’s building, buds are stacking. You can add a PK booster if you’re into that, but don’t go nuts. I’ve seen people dump in 0-52-34 like it’s Gatorade. Chill. A little goes a long way. Molasses? Maybe. Some swear by it. I’ve used it. Didn’t hurt. Might’ve helped. Who knows.
Flush (Last 10-14 days)
Stop feeding. Just water. Plain, pH’d water. Let her burn through the leftovers. You’ll see the fade—leaves yellowing, colors shifting. That’s good. That’s what you want. Don’t panic. She’s not dying. She’s finishing. Let her.
And yeah, some folks flush for a week, some for two. I go by feel. If she’s still dark green, keep flushing. If she’s fading nice and slow, you’re golden. Don’t overthink it. Or do. Up to you.
Final Thoughts (if you can call them that)
Northern Lights doesn’t need a buffet. She wants a steady hand, a little attention, and space to do her thing. Don’t baby her. Don’t ignore her. Just listen. Watch. Adjust. And for god’s sake, stop chasing perfection. She’s already got it in her. You just have to not screw it up.