First Grow

Struggled the past two weeks - while the plants are growing, they look faded and weak, and aren't putting on height and branching the way I would have expected. Just began LST today, and while I pulled the pots out of the tent, I found roots protruding out the bottom of the 5gal pots on both plants - they are indeed growing, but underground more than above. I suspect I am continuing to be too light handed with the water. So I have fully soaked the pots until water ran out the bottom (about 1.5 quart per plant), no nutrients (NOTG #9 soil) at a Ph of 6.8 and will continue to keep watch.