^^^^^ Good advice. Something I think all new growers should do is to pop a dozen or more bag seeds. They will give you a chance to practice different things like topping and LST. And if you kill a few of them, no harm done.
Not just that, but bag seed can have some real hidden treasures in them. Don't get me wrong, I'll gladly pay what it takes to get my hands on some legit and stable genetics.. but you have numbers on your side with bagseed and you can find some real gems in bag seed. We all know OG Kush was bag seed at one point so the potential is there for sure! I always recommend people start out with either bag seed, or cheap clones and as cheap of a set up as they can go. This way you remove the money factor from the equation, which means you will be significantly less high strung about your results. I can't emphasize how big of a deal this is. It doesn't matter if you're growing weed, at work, playing poker, or investing, if you're stressing about your results you will always make stupid decisions.
Appreciate the post. I used 100% ocean Forest. Last year I used a 50/50 mix of ocean Forest and some pro-soil. Now I look back and think i should have continued that. I figured when transplanted they where big enough to handle it.
I may have got a bit full of myself this grow. Thinking I had it because my first grow I had a lb yield on two plants with only a few minor bug problems. I changed everything on this grow then the last. I have researched alot and told many different pH ranges for watering.
I guess pictures don't do much Justice. The other plant in didn't take a photo she looks sad and pothetic. I tried trimming bad areas from plant in hope to get going into right direction and was a fail. It was just so rewarding last time i wanted to try again. I enjoy growing but do not have the space inside during the cold months so I can keep practicing and learning. They just get to large inside and I can't have a tree growing that big in my space lol. Or the smell
Most people I know that run FFOF usually cut it with something, most people do a 50/50 mix of FFOF and perlite but I found decent results with 1/4 FFOF, 1/4 Happy Frog, 1/2 perlite.
You're outdoors then I'm guessing? While a half pound is a respectable yield, there is definitely more potential for you. Fox Farm makes a decent product, it's not bad but it isn't without it's flaws. I recommend looking into Sub's supersoil, or better yet CC's soil. I've been getting amazing results with CC's mix. The problem with brand name soils like Roots Organic and Fox Farm is they really skimp on what they put in it. The soil mixes usually are pretty good and typically have quality ingredients in them, but only enough to get you about half way through flower. I feel they design their soils like this on purpose so you have to rely on their synthetics. The problem with this is that it creates somewhat of a hybrid grow between hydroponics/synthetics and organic/soil and as a result you don't ever truly see the benefits of either, just a hybrid of the two styles.
With soil, you're creating a living organic source of life designed specifically to meet every need of your plant. With hydroponics, you're creating an environment where you meet the every need of your plant. Both ways have their pros and their cons, their successes and their failures.
If you're set on running synthetics, I'd recommend trying coco next time around. It is infinitely easier to run synthetics in coco than it is in a soil mix. Soil just wasn't designed for synthetics, but coco will work well for it. It's a hell of a lot easier to flush a pot of coco than it is soil, and you're less likely to have salt buildup in a coco grow.
If you're set on running soil, look into a type of living organic soil like Sub's Supersoil or CC's mix. With this method, you're creating a soil and amending it with organic amendments that will eventually break down into the nutrients your plant needs. The plant will then communicate its needs to the microbes in your soil which will in turn take care of your plant. With synthetics, you're caring for the plant, however with soil you're caring for the soil and not the plant because the soil does all the work for you so long as it's balanced.
From what you're telling me, it seems like you're into trying new methods until you can find one that you know for sure will work out how YOU want it to. That's why I feel like there isn't a "best" method for growing, the "best" method is what works best for you and what works best for me may not work best for you and vice-versa. I'd recommend taking two clones of the same strain and growing one out in coco with synthetics, and the other in living organic soil. Document your results with both methods and see which one works best for you, then refine it and dial it in.
As for learning inside, if you're concerned about space just get yourself a simple CFL set up going. It won't break the bank and if it doesn't turn out well you aren't out a bunch of money. Get that going for the experience and just be happy with whatever you yield. You're definitely not going to get fat yields with a simple CFL set up, but it will provide invaluable experience that will make it well worth your time and effort.
I just took a look at your most recently uploaded photos and while I'm seeing some signs of slight stress, they really do look fine overall. The cannabis plant is a very sturdy plant and can take a lot more abuse than you would think. I found out one of my breakers in my house was old the hard way. How did I find that out? I went into my grow shed to check on the girls and was hit with even more intense heat than the outdoor 100 degree heat. I go inside and none of my air conditioners are running, temps were at 122 degrees. I don't know how, but only one of my strains looked severely stressed and even it made a come back. By my estimates, they were in those conditions for at least 4 hours. That's just to give you a bit of an idea of just how much these ladies can endure.
I can sit here and write and entire book for you, but ultimately it won't be nearly as effective as you experiencing it for yourself. Take it from me, I'm not the brightest crayon in the shed and I can get good results. Just takes due diligence and a decent work ethic. Just don't give up and keep at it and you'll be just fine my man. Perhaps even consider posting a grow journal so that you can get input from others, just remember to be cautious of who you take advice from. There are a lot of helpful and knowledgeable folks on here in both the organic and synthetic sections, just don't give up and you'll get it with time my man.
If you get a journal going be sure to link it here so I can follow it. Happy growing my friend.
Rest assured, your girls look just fine 
