I can't help you with soil I'm afraid.....I grow in hydro. For your white buckets you need to cover the white so no light gets through to your roots. For the bugs you need to get a good bug spray (I like "Don't Bug Me" by Foxfarms). The more problems you have going (and it sounds like you have several) the more stress you put on your plants. You have some good intentions but what you really need is good knowledge....you just can't raise these plants without the right light, soil, food, ph, etc...no matter how much you try.

Study up.

good luck.