I'd say that wierd twisted growth could be a problem with the medium, pot size, or both.
make sure your soil has everything you need in it, amend it if it doesn't (research this if you don't know how to amend soil)
If the soil or other medium isnt moist or dry enough, you will have root rot problems changing too dry to too wet, and if the soil mixture dries out too rapidly, the heat from the room goes to your roots and your plant is stressed
I like to make a light mix of soil, but in a really big pot. This way I can't over water, but there is a nice reserve for the plant to tap into
spinout is a major problem with plastic buckets, if your plant has been in too small of a container, you'll see a stunt in it's growth and twisting/deformed leaf growth. With hard buckets the root mass can't be as dense as when in an air pruning pot
the air pruning pots are the way to go next time IMO, with bigger pots and some nice potting soil with added perlite!
JMO tho !
and as said a page ago, "pruning " or "defoliation " is a myth
just don't do it!! it don't make no sense!
low stress training is a much better way to increase light penetration!