there are multiple ways to get hermies the biggest one is not keeping your dark cycle dark enough so if your not doin that then the chance is really low
its a plant and will react with its enviroment whenever you switch to 12/12 it will flower
yep - from what i've heard, interrupting the dark period during 12/12 is the surest way to get hermies.
and while you can start flowering anytime, it is better to let your plants establish themselves a bit first - like 12" tall or so ... but you plan on doing SoG don't you? i've never done a SoG grow so can't help you there.
You mean from a clone? I have not read about any successes with flowering from seed. Please let me know if you have, and what the yield was. (an 1/8?? haha)