Indoor to Outdoor Transplant

What up ya'll?? Virgin poster here. Also new to the growing game. Anyways, a friend has given me 50 clones that I have under 1000w. I'm in the southern section of the Northeast so I have probably about another month before I can stick these girls outside. My question is how much light should I be giving them now?? Should I just keep it on 24/7 till I transplant it outside, or should I start cutting it back now?? What would be some advantages of doing either??
Thanks

I would veg for 18/6 for now.Start to harden off your plant by putting them outside when it gets warmer out for a few hours per day until your ready to transplant.you may want to wait a little longer to transplant.the weather is too unpredictable in april in your area,I'm in souther nj.I wait until at least april 25th at the earlyest,I usually wait until the 1st of may to plant my clones, by that time all chances of frost are gone. Remember to put some type of fencing around your clones,because,from my experiences, when you plant earlier than u should,if the weather doesnt kill your plants the critters will.

Thanks for the reply bud. I really can't bring them outside and back. I can however go to the 18-6 lighting times. What would be the benefit from doing this instead of 24/7 on?? Will it just lessen the shock when they go outside??

Also, I have them in cups. Once outside I plan on potting straight into thr ground, but in the meantime, as they get bigger and bigger inside would it be smart to transplant them into bigger pots for root development?

Yea i would transplant. And yea it would lessen the shock. When u put em in the ground id cut out the bottom of the pot to let the roots keep going.