OK, unfortunatly I could always go on forver about what ya could do to better your grow but lets start with teaching the basics. First lets go into HPS lighting. A HPS light is great, I lovem, but nothing compares to the sun. The strongest indoor lighting (HPS) can only efficiently penetrate 1.5 feet through the canopy. So in other words anything under that 1.5 foot mark will grow poorly. Now to get around this indoor growers bud plants when they are fairly short(depending on strain) so they can finish up with a plant thats 2-3 feet and has quality buds everywhere. If the plants get to tall, but ya have plenty of room, ya can lollipop them. This is what I do when I am learning to grow a new strain and it stretches more than I think it will the 1st 3 weeks of 12-12. I trim almost all branches and leaves from the soil up until I have a 2ft thick canopy and a bare stem up to it. So I would ask how tall are your plants/ have any pics? Do you know what strain your growing?
This prob isnt what ya wanna hear, god knows I didn't at first, but ya HAVE to start with good genetics. I did the same thing and all ya get is average weed that will prob be seeded due to hermaphrodite genetics. Think about it a second. Almost all growers go for sensimillia (seedless weed), so if you have seeds in your weed, it's from a female going hermy and causing some seeding. Now you are going to take that very hermy mothers genes and try to grow a cross of the original strain that WAS good. Buy some seeds if ya really wanna do it right,you will really be glad ya did.
Honestly I am not a big fan of flourecents unless ya have a shit ton of high output 4ft tubes. I personally I dont feel they are neccessary. Some people have heat or space issues and use them, but if ya can use strong lights I dont see a reason not to. Plus they give pretty small yields unless again ya have a shit ton. Some people have impressed me with there quality, but never yield.
HMM powdery mildew ewwww been hoping I don't have that prob anytime soon lol. Never have thank god, I know a sulfur burner will eliminate it from happening in the first place but as for ridding it I honestly don't know but will try and find out for ya.
