Homemade - we are on the same page.........
I was speaking of hormones the plant has. Healing hormones and flowering hormones. They are separate.
When the plant is pruned, it sends healing hormones throughout the plant that mends the cut, and sends energy to grow new tips at nodes. You are essentially training the plant to be low and bushy. We all want that as inside growers.
When the lights are switched to 12/12, the hormones in the plant sense it is the end of the season, and it's time to flower. So from the time you switch your lights, and the actual real pistils (not pre-flower) develop - there is a 10 to 20 day delay as the plant is gearing up for flower production.
As far as when to flower............ Your plant is mature for it at 4 to 6 weeks, depending on strain. You can flower anytime you want when your plant is mature, whether you've topped or not.........
If minimal stress is your concern, then when you prune and stress your mature plant, wait until new growth below cutting is lush, dark green, and profuse. It has then recovered from the topping, and has energy ready to put towards flowering.
As a whole, the plant is relatively forgiving as far as recovery.
PB