When to switch the lights on?

I germinated using the paper moist towel method and have now planted in the soil. My question is do I need to turn the lights on before the shoots break the soil to give them something to grow towards or can I leave them off until they've broken the soil?

Love and Light,
Curious Soul

leave the lights off until they break the soil surface. also what kind of light do you have hps, mh, cfls, fluoro? if you have hps or mh keep them far enough away from the seedling so as not to burn it. cfls and fluros don't emit as much heat but you must still be careful of them as well. i would suggest for the first week about keep the lights at least 2ft away if not more.

The light's are hps, though with them being an autoflowering strain should hopefully mean I won't need to bother getting some MH. I set it up at 24" away (quite by accident) just judging the temp on the back on my hand. Thank you for clearing it up though and for your concern for my babies. +rep.

HPS will give them a bit of stretch... it'll be fine though.

Yeah, and don't start feeding nutes until they are on their 4th node, and they like a daily mist of water, without the light on them.

Noted. Thank you people.