Mother plant

How do you maintain a mother plant? What hours of light? How do you keep it from flowering? Can they be kept for years? I want to try cloning.

1. good soil/medium, good light
2. at least 18 hours of light every 24 hours
3. see umber 2
4. 2-4 years.. no problem.. if kept healthy.. temp, medium, nutrients, light etc
5. cloning is THE WAY ....