I have a lot of ideas on the subject. Here’s my thoughts:
Syrian/Lebanese grow huge root balls for their size. I think this is largely due to the face that they were adapted to grow in dry environments without irrigation. The extensive root mass serves to cover a large area and efficiently make use of the water. These plants are very tolerant to drought conditions as well.
The formation of roots begins when the plants are switched to flowering mode. Because they can often flower under 14/10 or maybe even 15/9, a rapid switch to 12/12 tells them that seasonally, they are far behind in their development for where they should be.
Shortly after the light cycle change, they rapidly start developing their large root systems. Grown in pots, the roots become densely packed, instead of covering the large area they have adapted from. To rapidly form all of these new roots, it requires an immense amount of phosphorous in a very short period of time. At the same time, the above ground plant mass is low, and transpiration is limited. Phosphorus is in a state of deficiency, because so much of it is allocated to roots. If feeding synthetic nutrients, it also continues to uptake nitrogen, compounding the problem. In many places, roots are left to compost back into the soil after harvest. This returns much of the phos to the soil to be used again.
Once the root mass has established, it poses other problems indoors. Many Lebanese/Syrian plants are quite small in stature and not heavy feeders. However, the large roots create a large surface area that is adapted for efficiency in its environment. Given rich, full strength liquid nutrients causes sensitivity in the plants, because of their efficient root systems.
Not much attention is given to nutrients as a stressor, but in many cases, especially adapting dry climate landraces to indoors, it is probably beneficial to be using synthetic nutrients. Stresses of all kinds cause hermies. In this case, I think it’s a combination of all of these things – rapid lighting changes, large root system and nutrient sensitivity that all adds up to enough stress to cause them to go hermie.
However, if you just want to grow the plants and minimize problems, then growing outside is probably go to work great. Gradual changes in the sun angle give the plant plenty of time to adapt into flowering. Larger pots will probably make a better home for their roots. Organic nutrients will uptake more gradually. Indoors, it may be possible to ease into flower with a more gradual cycle.
It doesn’t bother me so much that they hermie. I’m fairly certain that if I was growing them in larger pots of organic soil, that they would be fine. But it’s not a bad thing to have stress and select the ones that can adapt to my indoor conditions better.
! Painful losing so many, but its to be expected I guess.
, you must be a proud papa … 
This thing turned rank fast, and not in a good way. Best I can describe is like a dumpster… metallic, rotting meat and sweat. I seriously cannot recall growing a plant that smelled worse than this one. Sweet jesus I hope it’s just a phase. I’m not sure I could breathe it in. FWIW, I have yet to find a hermie flower or nanner, so I think we’re in the clear…
Sweet, fruity smells that are quite appealing.