Flowering has just started on the Northern lights and both of Candys.
Getting bigger than I had expected, seem to growing at the same speed as last years soil grow but are much bigger and healthier looking.
Both the Candys have grown bigger than the Northern Lights, The Northern lights is maturing quicker.
if you'd like,,check my Northern Lights scrog and my purple haze greenhouse diaries for ideas on training/trimming/defoliation, i'm far from a pro,,but do use the method to promote bud sites as you mentioned above..
Looking good and progressing very nicely !! Good luck with the grow !
Please feel free to check out/show love on some of my recent grows (Tropicana cookiez/Venom OG/Banana Mango )
Also… I have a lots of growing tips on my profile page (comments section)