North Atlantic Seed Co.

Breeder Spotlight: Mephisto Genetics

Posted on February 12, 2026February 12, 2026 by Matt Pagliaro

Mephisto Genetics shares 3 tips for new growers, an update about their recent trip (and win!) at the American Autoflower Cup and their top recommendations! Don't miss out on all the great deals from Mephisto Genetics for Breeder of the Week!

3 TIPS FOR NEW GROWERS

Pick a growing style that works for you

The very first step new growers will take when beginning to grow autoflowers is choosing a growing style. There are many ways to successfully grow, and each system will have its own unique benefits and limitations. Prior to germinating their first seeds, new growers will want to choose whether they will be growing indoors, outdoors, or under mixed lighting. They will need to also select a growing medium, as well as a watering style and nutrient regiment. To ensure a successful grow, it is imperative that new growers research and select a system that works best within their own unique parameters and preferences.

Source genetics that both meet your preferences and work best in your chosen system

When selecting genetics, new growers will want to source varietals that first and foremost meet their individual preferences. This may include strain lineage, flavor profile, effect, THC%, etc… However it’s also important to select varietals that work best within a chosen system. For example, certain strains will grow smaller, while others grow larger. Some are better for indoor growing while others work well for outdoor growing. Some strains are heavier feeders while others are lighter feeders. Once a system is chosen, new growers can select genetics that work best within them to strengthen the odds of having a successful first run.

Familiarize yourself with how to dial in environmental and lighting needs for your plants.

Autoflowers grow best within an optimal environmental range. The three pillars of this include temperature, humidity, and light. To dial in temperature and humidity, growers should familiarize themselves with Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD). To understand how much light a plant will need within a day, growers should familiarize themselves with Daily Light Integral (DLI). Lastly, proper airflow is imperative to regulating the environment of a garden. It prevents unfavorable microclimates by moving new air in and taking old air out.

MEPHISTO GENETICS x AMERICAN AUTOFLOWER CUP

January 2026 marked the 4th annual American Autoflower Cup, and this year our team made it out to Los Angeles, CA in full force! To celebrate our community, the Mephisto Genetics team hosted a meet & greet at The Woods in West Hollywood. Here, the MG team were able to connect with close members of our community. This included a few of our esteemed testers. Being able to connect face to face with our testers in an environment where we could open jars, calibrate our palates to one another, and intelligibly discuss flavor profiles and derive aromatic notes was priceless. The ambiance inside of The Woods garden lounge made the perfect backdrop to this epic meetup of growers and testers.

505 Headbanger just won Highest THC Autoflower 2026 at the American Autoflower Cup and North Atlantic Seed Co. is offering it with auto carts over $35 this week! This unreleased strain is sure to be a huge hit!

See all the American Autoflower Cup Winners HERE: https://americanautoflowercup.com/

Mephisto 505 Headbanger Sitewide Special Banner

MOST POPULAR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MEPHISTO GENETICS

Outdoor: Alien vs. Triangle / Beary Berry Punch

Alien vs. Triangle

Beary Berry Punch

Beginner Friendly: Sour Stomper / Grape Crush

Sour Stomper

Short Grow Cycle: Mango Runtz / 24 Carat

Mango Runtz

24 Carat

Resistance to Disease: Canna Cheese 1:1 / 3 Bears OG

3 Bears OG

High Yield: Old School Blues / HubbaBubbaHaze

Old School Blues

HubbaBubbaHaze

High THC: 505 Headbanger / Double Grape

505 Headbanger

Double Grape

Terpene Heavy: Guava Fig / Sundae Thumper

Guava Fig

Sundae Thumper

Extract: 4 Assed Monkey / Gelauto #33

4 Assed Monkey

Gelauto #33

Smoke Report: Omaha Jazz by Seed & Soil

Posted on January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 by Crystal Hinners

At NASC, we take a lot of pride in being a Maine business and we are lucky enough to have a couple of Maine breeders on our menu, such as Seed & Soil. For this smoke session, we tried their Omaha Jazz, a strain with an interesting history and a very desirable effect. Read on to learn about our experiences!

When I got my baggy of Omaha Jazz, I immediately opened it to take a whiff. I was taken aback by this big, pungently sweet and citrus aroma. It reminded me of fruit, sunlight, and warmer days, which is the complete opposite of the current, frigid Maine-winter. In addition to a memorable aroma, I loved the way this one made me feel. It is balanced, functional, long-lasting, and a total mood-booster. I felt physically loose, mentally calm, alert, and happy. I can see this being a great strain for laid-back creative and social activities. Morning usage put a pep in my step while doing tasks and it pushed me out of a grumpy slump and into bliss. I am always in complete awe of strains that possess the magic to lift my mood like this and Omaha Jazz succeeded.
- Crystal

Omaha Jazz has a sweet, smoky aroma that gives a powerful high. It burns slowly so you can really relax while you smoke and enjoy the ritual. It’s been said to have an “unmistakable perfume” which is absolutely true. This “Sweet Jazz” inspiration strain smells good as it burns. It’ll leave you feeling relaxed but still alert, so it’s great for chilling on the couch watching a show (and probably enjoying a few snacks, let’s be honest.) The effects last several hours so it’ll last you through a chill evening into a restful sleep! Definitely recommend!
- Mariah

Check out the NASC Cast interview featuring Ben of Seed & Soil!

Shop Seed & Soil Now!

Raspberry Roulette (F)

$12.50

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Raspberry Parfait Auto (R)

$50.00

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Etrog Auto (R)

$50.00

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Tangie in the Sun (F)

$50.00

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Lemon Telescope Auto (F)

$50.00

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Omaha Jazz (F)

$50.00

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Raspberry Parfait Quick (F)

$50.00

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Caramel Headband (F)

$50.00

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And As Always, Happy Growing!

Subcool Seeds: Notes From the Breeder

Posted on January 12, 2026January 15, 2026 by Crystal Hinners

Subcool shares 3 tips for new growers, their favorite breeding project & a story!

BREEDER OF THE WEEK NASC JOURNAL FEATURE

BREEDER INTRO:

Subcool Seeds is dedicated to continuing Subcool’s legacy, bringing his legendary strains to a new generation of growers.

3 TIPS FOR NEW GROWERS:

1. Start Simple & Learn the Plant

New growers often try to do too much too fast. Pick a solid medium, a proven feeding plan, and give the plant time to show you what it needs. Healthy cannabis communicates clearly — leaf color, posture, and growth rate will tell you far more than any chart ever will.

“Strong roots and steady growth matter more than chasing perfection.”

2. Don’t Overlove Your Plants

Overwatering, overfeeding, and constant adjustments are some of the most common beginner mistakes. Cannabis prefers consistency. Let the medium dry properly between waterings, feed lightly, and avoid changing multiple variables at once.

“Less intervention usually leads to better results.”

3. Genetics Matter — Choose Wisely

Starting with quality genetics sets the foundation for success. Stable, well-worked lines are more forgiving, express better traits, and help new growers learn without unnecessary frustration. A great grow starts long before the seed ever hits the soil.

“Good genetics won’t fix every mistake, but they’ll forgive many of them.”

FAVORITE BREEDING PROJECT

That’s a tough one for us because the honest answer is we don’t really have a single favorite.

Right now, our focus is on preserving and continuing the iconic cultivars Subcool spent his career creating and championing. Each project carries its own history, personality, and purpose. Some are about flavor, some about structure, some about balance and some are simply about keeping something special from being lost to time.

At the same time, we’re thoughtfully bringing these genetics from 2012, into 2025, and beyond. Sub’s work was truly ahead of its time, so our goal isn’t to reinvent it; it’s to let it keep speaking in today’s market. That means carefully selecting for louder terpene expression, improved resin production, and extract-friendly traits, while maintaining the character, soul, and integrity that made these strains iconic in the first place.

If there’s a “favorite,” it’s the process itself: honoring the original work, selecting with intention, and ensuring these genetics remain available, true, and accessible for future growers. Every preservation project is a reminder that great genetics don’t just happen; they’re built, protected, and passed forward.

Sub always said the plants would tell you what mattered and we listen. Our favorite projects are the ones that protect his legacy: preserving the cultivars he believed in, refining them with care, and carrying them forward without losing what made them special.

BREEDER OUTRO: A STORY, TO CLOSE

It’s honestly impossible to narrow it down to one story. Some of our favorite moments weren’t about a single smoke sesh, but about the rooms we were lucky enough to be in. We’ve shared joints, laughs, and long conversations with some true legends of the plant; Subcool, Kyle Kushman, Mr. Soul, OG Raskal, Ross (one of the creators of GG4), and many others who helped shape modern cannabis. What stands out most isn’t just who was there, but the energy: growers swapping stories, debating terps, laughing about failures, and passing knowledge the same way it always has; one bowl at a time. Those moments remind us that cannabis has always been about community, curiosity, and respect for the plant and the people who came before us. That spirit is something we try to carry into our garden every single day.