About the fert expiration... I too questioned this with a tiger bloom bottle that I had for over a year. I actually had the same problems with the leaves doing the same thing, and plants not taking up water. When I asked my dro guy, he replied that it only gets better over time. But it also gets "hotter" meaning you can use less to get the same effects. I dont know how true this is.

Although you may not have to transplant with some strains, others grow more vigorously underground...Just something to think about. Especially if you vegged for a while.