Couple questions for a beginner

[stinkyattic]

I'm growing my first crop in a couple small planters...just a basic schwag, I'm not sure if I'll even separate the genders.

Then don't bother. You will end up with a nice crop of schwag seeds. Unless that is your goal, of course.

1) How long should I expect to wait until I see the first pairs of leaves pop up from the seedlings in the soil?

If you germed them in a cup or paper towel before planting, 4 days or less. If not, up to 2 weeks.

2) I'm using a couple hot incandescents right now for the vegetative stage...on 24 hours. Is that ok for the first week or so until I get fluorescents?

No.

3) What kind of fluorescent light would you recommend? ...Should I use MH for the vegetative state and then HPS for the flowering stage?

Neither of those are flourescent lights; they are HIDs. You can use flouros all through veg, or switch to MH as soon as the seedlings are rooted well enough to take the heat. This is all in both the FAQs and in the sticky in Basic Growing.

4) Is fertilizer absolutely necessary? I'm using your basic Scotts potting soil...

Yes. And that potting soil, if it is a continuous-feeding type, will kill your seedlings with too much fertilizer.

You've got a bit of reading to do- there's a link in my sig. It shoudl answer a few questions.