your plants look pretty good. Are you feeding them? If so, what are you feeding them? Which plant is it the ants go to? Where are you located (generally)? were they just stuck strait into the ground, or did you amend it/add top soil? The yellowing/dying leaves could be a sign of lack of certain nutrients, though I would have to see better pics to say. As far as your questions... You can water the entire plant, just not recommended that you water ground and leaves at the same time, and also recommended that you don't water leaves when they are going to be in direct sunlight and its hot. The flower cycle takes as long as you let it, it is different for different plants, but usually 60-90 days (Don't water your leaves/foliar feed your plants during flowering, it will cause mold) depending on the strain and environment). Budding is the flowering process. I would recommend giving your plants a Catalyst and other bloom nutes when your outdoor light cycle hits 12/12, and keep feeding them whatever the recommended doses are. Good luck....