SOIL First Grow Thoughts

[Icelanyx]

Hi everyone!
I recently started growing, wanted to know if anyone had any tips or anything?

My setup is:
9x 45w 6500k CFL (9x55w 2700k for flowering)
GHE SW Flora Gro, Bloom & Micro
Canna Terra Professional Soil Mix
3x Gallon fabric pots
4" Carbon filter (350m3/hr)
2x 1800rpm 120mm fans (1 for air output and 1 for air input)
3x Computer fans for airflow

I started this grow in early October. I planted 2 Northen Lights (photoperiod) and have been trying to manifold. I cut the main stem on both to split the growth into two main stems, and I've done this a couple more times so I'm now on the 3rd layer (8 main stems?). But I'm not entirely sure of what I'm doing, thought I would share some pictures and see if anyone had some tips.

[ChadWestport]

You're doing great! My first grow was very similar but I didn't have the knowledge to take on the manifolding at that point. You've crated a good size plant and given the limited light intensity of the CFL's, you may want to consider flowering it soon. Before you do, I would do a little bit of defoliation to move the leaves up off of the soil and to also increase a bit of airflow through the middle of the plant. Looking good though, enjoy the journey!

[Icelanyx]

You're doing great! My first grow was very similar but I didn't have the knowledge to take on the manifolding at that point. You've crated a good size plant and given the limited light intensity of the CFL's, you may want to consider flowering it soon. Before you do, I would do a little bit of defoliation to move the leaves up off of the soil and to also increase a bit of airflow through the middle of the plant. Looking good though, enjoy the journey!

Thanks!
I hit a few issues with one of them which led me to cutting all of the branches coming off the main stem off... Should I be doing this with the bushier one? Some of the lower branches I've manifolded a couple of times, so would that make a difference? Also, how much foliage should I prune as to not harm them?
I was thinking of switching to the flowering cycle on New Year's... I reckon if I train it a little bit more and lift the lights a bit more, I should have enough space to still have double before starting the 12/12 schedule.
I don't feel ready to think about harvesting! it felt like last week they were tiny little saplings... I'm not sentimental or anything...

[ChadWestport]

haha, we don get sentimental over them don't we?

Just a little bit of leaf out of the middle and any leaves that are touching the soil. It causes very minor stress to the plant.

I can't really see the structure in the plant from those pictures, but I don't think you'll need to chop off any branches. This is a medium stress to the plant. I prefer to do it the day after I have fed or watered the plant, so that the plant is in a healthy state.

Good luck with the flip, New Years sounds like an excellent time to do it.