Good to hear you are experimenting. That's half the fun growing to me.

When you crop you need to add side light on all sides to have proper light penetration throughout the whole plant. If you only light from the top (like 95% of the people do) the foliage can grow to thick for proper light penetration. Bending allows for light penetration through the foliage but it also only lights Ā½ of the branch too. Unless you use side light all the way around again you are only lighting the top of each branch. See the pattern starting to form?

Keep up with the experimenting. I do read most every post I just donā??t always reply. We have some very knowledgeable members here and if the information is correct and easy for others to understand I just donā??t always reply.
Keep records and pay close attention to light and temperature. Next play with misters and foliage spray, but be careful if the water droplets are to big you can burn the leaves.