how do i know when to put my plant on 12/12

[LIP]

hey, im not sure when to put my plant on 12/12, its got 5 sets of fan leaves and is about a foot and a half tall and the bottom leaves fell off about a week ago. im growing it indoors and it has what look like tiny buds forming up and down by the stems

If it's already got bud forming up and down the stems and it's not in 12/12 is can only really be preflowering. So it'll either have pistilles, or male pollen sacks, so pics would really help.