Dan,
Thanks very much for the guidance and input. I will pay attention to what you have said as I go through this grow.
In regards to hardening, when it's nice out, what i've been doing is setting them in a fully shaded spot in the morning while i'm at work from 8-12. Then I check on them at lunch since I live close. At about 1230 with the way my place casts a shadow, they are then in the sun full bore until I get home @ about 530. Then I bring them inside under the CFL'S. This is my current cycle. Of course I make sure the soil is properly hydrated during the heat. Temps have been about 65 or so in the morning creeping to 80-84 during peak right now before I bring them inside. Humidity has been 50-65%. When they are more mature and I put them among the vegetation, there should be a pretty good mix of sun and shade on the whole plant. My idea was just to mimic a natural outdoor environment as much as possible.
Thoughts on all of that welcome please...
In regards to your questions...
I will have them in drainable 3 gal pots which they are going into on Saturday for the remainder of their lives, which will be about 1 week in soil. My plan was to make my soil mix, then put an empty solo in the middle and carve out the space needed for the transplant. Then i'm going to place the cups they are in right now into the soil, gently cut away the cup, remove cup, and gently hand move the soil to make sure everything is packed right and fitted. Shouldn't disturb any roots at all I don't think.
And to the second half, yes, i have access to every single imaginable soil there is. Currently I have a very simple FFOF and Perlite mix at a 50/50 ratio and this what I am planning on using throughout the entire grow. I will be adding veg and bloom nutes from GH when the time comes, veg starting around week 2 and into the first week of flowering signs, bloom after that.
Again, thoughts on that or anything above welcome!