hey turtle WHAT????? my father was the best gardening ,composting,fool i know.ive learnt the basics from the best. any fool can make a pot plant grow its the end rsults is what counts. ( BUDS ONLY PLEASE). DAM turtle youve gone way past the basic you are getting way to involved . this is it.....50/50 perlite and some home made compostand and some clean loom.and leave them alone. make sure your lights are at a safe distance and water when needed. and ferts of coarse. they take care of them selves.with floro top the shit out of them. you dont need to bend them all over well just my 2 cents because sometimes i read and people are fucking nuts the things they say. its what works for them but tieing all thgat shit is crazy. top top top top THANKS<SKIPPI>