Can I flower???

Ok this is for experienced growers with accurate answers only please as I have already enough conflicting information.

When can a plant, started from seed, really be induced into flowering.

So far here is what I have for answers:

Plants has to be 4 weeks old

Plant has to just be at least 12 inches tall (this seems like a bogus answer because this doesn't account for a plant that had poor lighting so it stretched)

and finally I have heard as long as there are 4 or more nodes it can be induced.


So what's the real answer....and to be more specific in my question here is what I'm up against:

My seeds were planted just over 4 weeks ago, they have been above ground with the first set of REAL leaves, not the initial oval leaves since the 18th of last month

They now have 9 nodes, my main stalk is thicker than a number 2 pencil, about twice as thick....and below are pictures of the plants I would like to switch to a 12/12 cycle tomorrow morning at 6 a.m.

Oh and these pics are 3 days old, the plants are 4 inches taller at a height of 16 inches.

Can these plants be turned to a 12/12 tomorrow? If not, when?

(sorry I'm having problems uploading pics, here is just a link to my grow journal...page 3 has the most recent pictures My Journal, can I flower?
TIA

https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/26012-cloning-2.html#post269054

check this out

Dude you can start a plant on 12/12 if your wanted to. Its all about how much room you have to work with, and the yield your looking for. Most growers say the 12 inch rule, or the one month rule. But ultimately you don't have to follow this. I have started plants on 12/12 and got about a 10gramm harvest. Its upto you. At the stage your at now, you could easily flower and be reasonably happy with you yield. Hope this helped somewhat.

Both of you helped greatly, thanks a bunch.


Yeah I figured the answers I have gotten were a general rule of thumb, but by no means rules written in stone...just wanted to verify...again thanks a million!!