Again, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! You never, ever look at the plants when the light is off. Not even with a night light. 0 light leaks when the light is off.

I strongly believe that the dark period is the most important part of a successful grow. If you have started from a seed, there is a 50/50 chance it will be m or f. I did 4 grows in a row, all from seed, different strains and packs, and ALL of them turned out female. When the light was off for those 6hrs during veg., they remained OFF that entire time.

I have done other grows where I haven't been so careful, ost of them turned of males, so, if you're growing from a seed, it MUST be dark at all times when the light is off. Not even for 2seconds.

If you started from a clone and you know it's female, having it turn out male is impossible, but the dark period is just as important. You can risk getting a hermi plant, that will give you seeded buds, and once seeds start forming, THC production slows down and eventually stops.

So overall, from seed or a clone, or 18/6 light hours to 12/12 light hours, when that light is off, it stays off for those 6 or 12hrs, or things will not turn out like you had hoped.

Good luck.