Avoiding Common Mistakes Colorado Growers Make Indoors

Colorado might be one of the most cannabis-friendly states in the country, but that doesn’t mean growing indoors is always smooth sailing. The state's dry air, high elevation, and legal requirements bring their own quirks and a lot of new growers make the same avoidable mistakes early on.

Whether you're setting up a tent in your spare bedroom or turning your basement into a homegrow haven, here's a guide to the most common indoor cannabis growing mistakes Colorado growers make - and how to avoid them.

1. Ignoring Colorado’s Dry Air

The Mistake: Thinking your plant can thrive in the same dry air you live in.
Colorado has some of the lowest humidity in the U.S. - and cannabis hates that in its early stages.

Why It Matters:

Seedlings and vegging plants need moisture in the air to grow properly. If it’s too dry, they become stressed and grow slowly.

How to Fix It:

• Use a humidifier to maintain 60–70% RH during veg
• Lower to 45–55% during flowering
• Invest in a digital hygrometer to track your grow environment accurately

2. Overwatering Because of the Dry Climate

The Mistake: Watering more often just because the air feels dry.
New growers assume their plant is thirsty when in reality, cannabis prefers to dry out between waterings.

Why It Matters:

Overwatering suffocates roots, causes droopiness, and invites fungus gnats or root rot.

How to Fix It:

• Use the “lift-the-pot” test - water only when the pot feels light
• Make sure your pots have proper drainage holes
• Use fabric pots to help roots breathe and dry out more evenly

3. Skipping Air Circulation

The Mistake: Not adding enough airflow to your grow space.
In sealed indoor rooms, especially in a place like Colorado where windows stay closed, stagnant air builds up fast.

Why It Matters:

Poor airflow leads to powdery mildew, weak stems, and pest problems.

How to Fix It:

• Install an oscillating fan or two for gentle movement
• Use an inline exhaust system with a carbon filter to remove heat and odor
• Maintain steady airflow above and below the canopy

4. Not Sealing the Grow Space Properly

The Mistake: Letting bugs, light, or pets into your grow.
Many Colorado growers try to cut corners by growing in open closets or makeshift setups.

Why It Matters:

Unsealed spaces allow pests like spider mites or aphids in, disrupt the light cycle, and stress your plant.

How to Fix It:

• Invest in a proper grow tent or seal off a dedicated room
• Use weather stripping or blackout materials around doors and windows
• Never bring outdoor plants or soil into your grow without sterilizing

5. Underestimating the Power of Light at Altitude

The Mistake: Using weak lighting just because the sun is strong outside.
Indoor plants still need dedicated grow lights to mimic the intensity of the sun.

Why It Matters:

Insufficient lighting leads to stretchy, weak plants with light, airy buds.

How to Fix It:

• Use LED or full-spectrum lights rated for cannabis
• Maintain the right distance from canopy (usually 12–24 inches, depending on light type)
• Follow a schedule of 18/6 for veg and 12/12 for flower

6. Ignoring Colorado's Legal Limits

The Mistake: Growing too many plants or growing in a non-private space.
Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean there are no rules.

Why It Matters:

Exceeding plant limits or growing where others can see it could land you with fines - or worse.

How to Fix It:

• Know the law: Most adults 21+ can grow up to 6 plants, with 3 flowering at a time
• Your grow must be indoors and out of public view
• Never sell your homegrown cannabis - it’s for personal use only

7. Forgetting About Odor Control

The Mistake: Underestimating how loud cannabis smells indoors.
You might be used to the smell but your neighbors (or landlord) probably aren’t.

Why It Matters:

Strong odor can cause tension with others and draw unwanted attention.

How to Fix It:

• Install a carbon filter with your exhaust system
• Use odor-neutralizing gels outside the grow room, not in it
• Keep doors shut and ventilation contained

8. Not Planning for Harvest and Cure

The Mistake: Rushing your harvest or drying in a space that’s too dry.
In Colorado’s low-humidity homes, weed dries fast - sometimes too fast.

Why It Matters:

Quick drying leads to harsh smoke, chlorophyll taste, and weak aroma.

How to Fix It:

• Harvest slowly and carefully - check trichomes, not just timelines
• Dry in a dark space with 50–60% RH and temps around 60–70°F
• Cure buds in airtight jars, burping daily for 1–2 weeks minimum

Learn the Colorado Way

Growing weed indoors in Colorado is a privilege but it comes with unique challenges. By understanding the local climate, following the law, and avoiding these beginner pitfalls, your grow will be smoother, healthier, and way more enjoyable. Remember: it’s not about growing more - it’s about growing better.

At HomeGrow Helpline, we provide clear advice, tested product recommendations, and a no-judgment approach, we’re here to make growing weed in Colorado simple, rewarding, and fun.