What Lighting Schedule Should I Use?

ok im gonna start growing my first plant in a couple of weeks. what lighting schedule should i use?

18/6 to veg..12/12 to flower...

ok im growing in a closet so what lights should i buy?

I use hps lighting only....so look into hps/mh switchable lights...they will run metal halide bulbs and hps bulbs...

ok...now last question so i cud get this going...how many watts shud each light be since im growing in a closet?

250-400 i would say..

ya def go with the 18/6 then 12/12 ! ! !

I've read a bunch of people saying that they use a 24 hr cycle for veg, or atleast part of veg. Why 18 instead of 24? Is 24 bad, or is 18 just better?

a plants "photoperiod" is only for 18 hours, if you put a 24/7 plant next to a 18/6 plant and looked and the difference, there wouldnt be any...

All things need a period of darkness to rest. It really does make the plant much healthier, especially root wise.

guess I'llbe dropping down to an 18hr cycle then. thanks