first grow, advice appreciated

this is my first time growing and my plants aren't as bushy as i would have hoped, i was wondering if anyone could help.I think it is a sativa strain which might be the reason but it seems to thin.
lighting:I started with 2 150watt HPS/ 14,400 lumens at 24/0. I would like to say that when i started i didn't do any research until about the 2nd week. I think the HPS encourged more stem growth and stunded the foliage. Soon the bottoms leaves started to yellow, and then all of the leaves. the temp had been at a constant 85f. I switched to 4 150 watt flouresents at the fourth week. The bottom leaves never recovered and i pruned the dead leaves.
Soil:They are potted in an organic soil mix with 20% perlite perlite by weight.
I haven't used an fertilizers at all
I water them every 2 days or so, when the soil isn't moist.
I topped the three in seperate pots, but new growth seems to have stunted in the past week or so. I am just looking for suggestions. I was thinking about trying to flower them now, but maybe i should let them veg longer?. Any help is appreciated.

are those clones? u definately need to veg till u get a few more branches on them put the lights alot closer as well

i do know for one it is a better idea for each plant to be in its own pot/container.

yes. its the only way. one per container. lots of light is just as important

the four in the one container were burnt by the HPS pretty badly, i didn't expect them to survive, but they seem to be making a come back

and no they aren't clones, I just germinated some random seed and they are about 5 weeks old

do u have any filtration to that bucket ur usin?

Pot Em Sep. Id Use Hps All The Way, And Maybe Use Flos Later Too For Side Growth,if You Ask Me , I Think Thats A Good Way To Grow Bigger Plants. The Plants Look Very Leggy. I Keep My 400hps About 1 Foot Away From Tops Of Plants With A Fan Blowing Near The Lite And Tops So They Dont Burn, Plus A Fan Make Them Stronger And Gets Rid Of The Plants Toxins. Are You Useing One?.
Craige
For The Plants Sake,imagine How Wider Thell Get,plus A Plant Needs It Own Pot, Repott Em Into There Final Pots. Your Just Setting Your Self Up For A Mistake.
Craige

How Big Is Your Grow Space Sound Like You Have Plenty Of Lites.
Craige

Don't flower em yet and get yr light closer about 1ft ,but you'll want a fan on it to cool it down,give em some nutes(1/4 strength)be patient your doing fine.

he said the hps lite was burning his plants, why he not need a fan, .

Well for one..You will have to transplant each on into seperate pots.. or the roots will evenetuallyy tangle with each other n they will all die...
you might also want to move the lights like 2 inches away so it doesnt stretch like its doin..

What i ment woz,start 1ft away till ya get ya temps right 75-85 dont wont to burn em!then move em closer.....if ya can.Good luck m8t

have ya got em in the own pots yet m8t?not been on for a while?giz a update

no, I never re potted the four, They thrived under thoes floros, now I have started to flower and I've got an ealry female, also I topped them just after the change and they responded vary well, I will post pics soon.

plants are stretched light needs to be closer!