veg time for mother

I'm setting up my first grow and I have the option to get White Rhino or California Kush clones. I can only afford to get one because the price isn't very kind but its worth it to not have to deal with the hassle of ordering seeds.

So the plan is to get one and attempt to pull six clones off of it.

How much veg time or approx. how tall would the mother have to be to be able to get six clones from it?

I'm using an ebb and flow system with general flora 3 part nutes and four 2 foot 24W T5's.

also which strain would you pick?

I just realized.. bigger plant = more roots? yes?

so I'm not sure I want to grow my mother in my ebb and flow tray for that reason and also because then I'll have no place to put the clones.

I still wanna go hydro with the mother so I'm thinking build a quick bubbleponics bucket, I had 5'' net pots for the ebb and flow tray but they have bigger ones at my local hydro store, so that might be the way to go.

suggestions?