I applied neem oil again to tackle the pests, and it seems to be working. I’ve also identified the deficiency the plants were showing—turns out it was a magnesium deficiency. Our local water report came out, and it confirmed that there’s no magnesium left in the water. After adjusting the dose, the plants have responded positively over the week, showing new growth and recovering well.
Interestingly, the magnesium deficiency also seemed to prevent the usual stretch the plants would undergo. I’ve also defoliated some leaves to allow more light to reach the lower buds. Both phenotypes are looking great, with stable leaves and strong branches.
The pest issue has significantly decreased, and I’m hoping the second neem oil treatment will resolve it completely. I'm cautious, though, as further applications could risk affecting the flavor of the buds during flowering.