Also, may I suggest, watering until saturated and then waiting until almost dry before watering again. Best watering method I know.Not sure why its lighter but I'm assuming it's because the pot was too small and all the water and nutes would run straight through it. If I do anything I might try the bending vs the chopping but still undecided since I haven't done enough research I might do one and leave the other...
Good job on the Dr. Earth!! The microbes help a lot, you only need to add them every couple weeks though.
There's also a pinching method, I was going to suggest it to you actually!
(Start a journal!!!!)