for what it's worth....I'm not a pro by any means. However, one of the most direct links between quality and yield is THE SIZE OF THE ROOT MASS. Although your plants may stall in appeared growth above the bucket, don't discount what they're doing IN the bucket. If you're an indoor grower, it may benefit you to veg them as long as you can to amass those roots to get the most buds per area. I hope that helped.