first time grower...

I need advice please. I have to grow my own anymore cuz my ave. is leaving and being all but 40, it aint easy bring up the subject to the few people I know in where to go. So I have no choice but to stop or grow it myself and stopping isn't a path I am willing to yet take. Sooooo I have a room in my basement I can use. I have a regular pot like 12"x12" with a plant about 6" so far of some really good bud I got before my ave. departed. I've been making sure it's watered daily and the light is on about 17 hours each day so far and off about 8 hours daily. Am I correct when the plant gets about 10" I have to change the lighting back to about 12 hours daily?
I don't have much time to read everything I am lucky to find on this, so I hope someone can give me perhaps a quick step by step guide.
I have a light I purchased from a garden shop made to help grow indoors (btw) and it's metal (ith).I guess what I need to know (besides what more helpful tips you can give) is.... The lighting period and for how long. What should I do with the plant itself (if anything more then just giving it water), and how much water should I be giving her (if it's a her that is)?
Thanks....

First things frist u need a decent growing medium CANNA COCO is fine, ask at you local grow store then you need some nutrient solution, I use IONIC GROW hard water(used in veg stage ie, growth)and i think u should atleast grow them up to a good hight like 2-3 feet,in the growth stage you're light should be on 24/0 24 hours a day or 18/6 18 hours light 6 hours dark.
When you're plant is in it's dark period is as to be totally dark no light at all as soon as light get's in the grow room it will fuck the growth patten and you're plant will start to re-veg and you should maintain this light cycle for at least 6 week's then when you think you're plant is ready and you think it's time to flower put the light's on 12/12 12 hours light an 12 hours dark and start feeding with IONIC BLOOM hard water wiht both the grow and bloom you should feed daily only if the plant need's it and you should flush every week.
And you should maintain the 12/12 light cycle for at least 8-10 week's depending on the weed and a some people wait for about 75% of the hair's on the bud to turn an amber colour....
GOOD LUCK M8.
PS LET ME KNOW?????

PEACE TO ALL :cool:

don't keep watering daily. allow the top two inches of medium to dry befrore watering. this encourages the roots to grow looking for water. only use hard water food if ya live in hard water area. also if ya use canna coco (i like coconut fibres though find a cheaper make than canna) i would only feed when the lower leaves start to yellow then half strength each time til they start to yellow again then full strength.