Cannabis is being grown all over the world, in most cases illegally. People get busted for it on a daily basis. There is nothing worse for the home grower when police officers arrive at his home and arrest him in front of all his neighbors, that he has spent so many years politely waving to each morning and being a master of small talk.

Here are 8 reasons why people get busted. And they can be avoided!

- Too much talking:

Perhaps up there as the number one reason for a knock at the door, is due to too many people knowing about your project at whatever level. You must always be vigilant for the green eyed monster and by that I mean the jealous ones.

Tip: Keep quiet and remember to keep your circle small. Cannabis should be grown for personal use and as a personal thing. Keep it that way and focus on your hobby.

- Too much smell:

It's probably no surprise for you to hear that cannabis smells. During vegetative growth the smell is not that hard, but when you put the plants into flowering, the smell will increase within no-time when they start to develop their buds.

Tip: When growing indoors you have to work with a carbon filter. Invest in a high quality carbon filter to filtrate the odor to carbon scented air. This will make your grow practically odorless.

- Selling weed:

The temptation for most to make a quick buck can be too much to resist and even more so, dropping a large amount off one time seems even more appealing. Pay day never seemed so close and the next thing you know...you have been arrested with plants, bags and scales and if you're not the sharpest tool in the box, then you may have a debt list lying around.

Tip: Just don’t sell. Again, Cannabis should be grown for personal use and as a personal thing. Keep it that way and focus on your hobby.

Here at Zativo we put the 3 reasons above in what we like to call the #1 Golden Rule: No tell! no smell! no sell!

But there are more reasons why people get caught:

- Too much noise:

A filter + fan makes noise. During the day this sound may be neglible, but at night the vibration and humming sound can be very present. And annoying. Be aware of this!

Tip: Invest time and money into high quality products and acoustic ducting. Also do checks before and after to see if fans are vibrating through floor boards. Understanding what causes a humming sound in the first place, can help you manage the solution through physics.

- Very high electricity bill :

You need to consider that for example 6 grow lights using 600w hps means with fans and ballasts and lights and pumps etc, you will be pulling in approximately 4100 watts of total energy. That's a lot and might cause suspicion. What is the worst case scenario is when the electricity is illegally taken. Nowadays electric companies are personally suing the person who has stolen the electric so be smart in this area.

Tip: There are many ways to reduce electric bills straight away, whilst still maintaining a great harvest. Drop lighting in veg from 18/6 to 14/10 and during flowering change lights from 12/12 to 10/14 for the last 4 weeks. Also look at alternative eco friendly lighting like LED.

- A water leakage :

Some people grow cannabis with automatic watering systems. A rule of thumb when dealing with water is that water gets into any spaces. What can start as an unnoticeable drip, can lead to all sorts of potential dangers from concerned neighbours, water companies and electrical danger most of all for you or the entire building you may be in. With ballasts around and electrical appliances, water and electric are not a good mix so a water leakage can really pull on the hand brake.

Tip: If using hydroponic systems, be sure to check for water leaks, especially if the system is homemade. When drilling into walls or ceilings, research where the water pipes are to avoid drilling through a main pipe.

- A light leak :

If you're growing in a tent then most times you are covered by the quality and assurance that the tent being used is offering. However, when opening the tent many watts of bright light will escape the tent and may be visible for people outside your house. HPS light is very bright and is easily recognized from far away.

Tip: A good tip here is to run your lights at day time. Then there is a high chance no one may see the opening of a tent, or the glowing LED that looks very out of place. Be vigilant and even do tests to see how light proof your indoor grow room is.

- Not blending in:

Blending in with your surroundings is key to maintaining a long term career in growing Cannabis. A grower may arise suspicion by not working like most members of the public. Also you could be one of those strange neighbors who always has the curtains closed but the windows open.

Tip: Make an effort to become friends with your neighbors. Also dress smart and avoid wearing clothing with weed leafs and avoid smoking joints in the street or garden.