Depending on your goals and style, tube flouros can be GREAT- you have to keep your plants really close to the lights, like 2" or so. I have vegged under T12s for years but prefer T5s, which are AWESOME but can be more expensive.
CFLs are good for cramming a lot of light into a tiny space, like a small cabinet or bin. They are small and bright, but run a bit warmer and can scorch plants that touch them. You just have to monitor growth.
If it is a metal probe pH meter that is not going to be a lot of help. Those give only a gross estimation of pH and don't work if the soil is dry. Try liquid drops.
Cloning for sex is a way to go. Your plants are pretty squat; yolu might even want to encourage a little stretch before cloning. You take cuttings and root them, then put the cuttings in flower and throw away any cuttings that show male, and the donor they came from.
Don't overdo it on the neem. LIGHT is the key.
stinkyattic Reviewed by stinkyattic on . First time grower- need some experienced insight- troubleshooting guide included Greetings everyone. I am a first time grower with five plants i grew from seeds i picked out of some nice bud(do not know the name). My setup is obviously not a high quality garden since I do not have the funds to buy better lighting ect but I am having fun growing my first plants and getting some experience. I have a few questions concerning the health of my plants. Are my plants a normal height for approximately 30 days old? They all seem to be a bit shorter than I was expecting. Rating: 5