1st grow and the fear begins (Soil Grow)

So I am about 32 days into my first grow and I need some opinions about where I'm standing. I am working in a 6' x 2.5' ft. growing area using mylar to coat the 4 ft. high walls. I am running on a 250 watt hps bulb. A small rotating fan spins full rotation every 3 seconds.

The situation is that there are 3 main plants (Skipper, Quazi Motto, and Jack) surrounded by 12 smaller plants that were started 2 weeks after the main 3. S, QM, and J are in 2.5 gallon clay pots with the light at an average distance of 1.5 ft from the tops. The younger plants are in 1 gallon clay pots at an average distance of 2.5 ft.

The scale of S, QM, and J are as follows.
Height Nodes
Skipper: 9" 4

Quazi Motto: 7.75" 3

Jack: 11" 3

The younger plants are all at an average height of 6".

We are running on a 18 light 6 dark lighting schedule. Watering is an average of 4 times a week. Finally I am pretty sure that all of the plants are indica.

My question is if the heights of the main 3 plants are of average height and maturity for plants that have been growing for 32 days. I would also like to know if the younger plants surrounding the larger plants have any sort of negative effect on the growth of the more mature plants.

Also if anyone has any advice on decreasing the time it takes for a plant to go through its vegatative state, and kick starting sending it into its flowering state.

I will post pictures of the grow soon, but I would really appreciate any advice possible for the time being. Thanks!

the hight of the plants is normal for 32 days or so.....there is no negative effect with younger plants being around older ones unless light distance is an issue.... you can start flowering a plant any time by switching the lighting to 12/12. unless these are auto(I doubt itvery much) You can not have younger plants around flowering ones unless you are flowering them. (change of light on and of time would instantly trigger flowering. read the faq at the top of the web site, loads of information in there.

You might want to raise the younger plants off the ground to even out your canopy. You want all of the plant tops to be level in order to receive consistent light. To kickstart flowering all you need to do is change the lighting schedule to 12/12.

thanks everyone. ill post pictures of the ladies ASAP