Is this the correct way to LST? Also stems are an odd dark color

[28 Grams]

It is my understanding that for LST I should try and spiral my plants. I'm not sure what I will do when I transplant them to bigger pots. Right now I just bent them in this way:

Also I'm a little worried, why are the stems this color? They are in FoxFarm ocean forest I fed them nothing but water except for a little bit of silicon supplement. Can't remember if I noticed this odd color before the silicone though...