Hey Gaz, nice start. I'm not an indoor grower but I do favour LOS. I presume you're using a Diastatic (malted) Barley as that will have a lot of those enzymes.Barley
This was recommended to me by several organic growing as a must for any living soil mix. It's said it will add a healthy balance phosphatase, chitinse, ur ease, protease, amylese. It's said that these enzymes will help microbs break down matter into nutrients. ( how fascinating is the soil web web)
Having 2 plants does offer you a choice to smoke when the time comes, as well as a fall back if a disaster strikes the other one. Wouldn't you be able to 'flip' both plants at the same time and harvest together, unless they have wildly different flowering times, altho not being an indoor grower it could be a silly question.I placed 2 seeds into cup of water 15 days ago. The Kush&cookies split very quickly, and the other GSC didn't split at all.. Should of done few to be sure ( first mistake lol)
I put another GSC into cup of water and it split few days later. Much to my annonice though this has now caused a growth gap in the 2 plants. And considering the Kush&cookies has about 10days longer flowering time than GSC, argghh!! I absolutely hate the idea of staggered harvests.
On mulch; I am a big fan of it as it allows the roots to reach to the top and make full use. Without mulch (as I grow outdoors), I find the top 2 inches will be bare and rather lifeless. But with mulch I have loads of worms chilling out underneath it while they contribute goodness to the soil and hundreds of fine roots going right to the top. I had been using Pea straw, altho I got Pea and Barley Straw this time as that was what was available. I guess even ripped brown paper or corrugated cardboard would work too, as that is what I use as a 'worm blanket' in my worm farm, which they eventually consume as they produce worm castings.
Anyway, you've got them safely underway and they're looking good, so just keep doing what you're doing!