Help with grow?

Hi, recently I received a clone after deciding to try and grow on my own. The clone is kushberry, already 4-5 inches tall when I got it. The roots were in rockwool, so I put it in a five gallon bucket with neutral potting soil in my closet, under two flourescent tube lights that are both meant for plant growth. I keep the lights about 3-4 inches above the plant. I water the plant once a week with a nutrient water concoction that I got from the same person who gave me the clone.

It has been 12 days since it was put in my closet, and it's now a little taller than a foot. The plant is very green and looks great, but a few of the leaves on the very top look a little damaged, though they're not wilting or dying. I can't describe the damage really.. I might be able to get a picture or two up.

So anyways I have the lights running on 20 hours of light, 4 hours of dark. I hope I'm doing everything right, I just wanted to see if some experienced people could critique my grow.

I have a few questions,

1. When do I change the light cycle, and what hours do I change it to next?
2. I haven't gotten around to getting a ph kit yet, how badly will this affect my plant if I quickly get one within the next few days and use it?
3. Were the plant growing flourescents the wrong ones to get? Should I have gotten normal flourescent bulbs?
4. Am I watering frequently enough?

Thanks guys! Any help would be amazing. I feel pretty ignorant about this whole process.

1. Switch to 12/12 to induce flowerig anytime. For closet grow, I'd say it may be time to switch now. Pics would help.

2. Get a pH kit when you can, sooner the better. You want to try to dial in the right level for maximum nutrient uptake, which is around 6.5-ish.

3. How many total watts between the two bulbs?

4. Only your plant can tell you that. I like to wait until the top inch of soil has dried before I water again.

The weird growth you're talking about might be heat damage from the bulbs being too close.

Welcome to RIU

OK well without a ph meter you can use distilled water or boil yours and let it cool to room temp or let it sit out overnight, you can change the light cycle to 12/12 when you want to start flowering (budding) when you decide the time is right by the size of your room, the plant will double or even triple in size, the longer you let it grow in veg state the more bud points you get. For watering it s all different let it dry out then water, use your finger to check or go by the weight of the pot when is wet then when its dry or get a meter from a garden center,lowes, home depot, its like less than 10 bucks, its a probe you stick in the dirt, your lights have a number on them like T12 T8 we need to know that. what exactly is your nutrient water concoction,

They're both GE ecolux indoor plant growth lights, 40 watts each. So a total of 80 watts. And I'll try to get some pictures up as soon as possible

I'm not sure what the nutrient concontion is. He mixed it up for me for free, and told me to start watering with it instead of tap water

Sounds like you should get some proper nutes. Your pal might be a fine grower but you would do well to learn about this kind of thing yourself. The 80W isn't enough light for a decent harvest in my opinion. I would add a few 42W CFL bulbs.

Okay, that's a good idea about the nutrients. I figured I should learn it on my own, anyways. Are there any links or anything anybody can provide that would help me learn how to get my own nutrients ready and such?
Also thank you both for the help!

There are lot of options, you might want to check your local nursery or maybe Home Depot. If you want quality nutrients, it's going to cost you more. I like the Foxfarm Trio. There are cheaper options and even pricier ones too. You may have to order online or find a hydro shop for the most of the good stuff.