I'm not trying to be a complete ass here (although it sounds like it), but the answers to all of your questions are already in this forum and all over the internet. Use Google or the search function located here. I mean the last question on how often to feed the plants... it's on the bottle. It has directions.
Also, don't listen to your roommate. Just his statement about determining the sex of a male shows he doesn't know what he's talking about.
Take FLGirl's advice and buy that book. It is well worth it.