A healthy marijuana plant should have lots of shoots, healthy roots and plenty of leaves.

But the more than 20 people Saturday who attended THC University’s first class, Growing Marijuana 101, learned that growing a healthy and fruitful marijuana plant is far from easy.

The sold-out class offered students the basics of growing marijuana at home, including information about watering, proper lighting, different containers and optional accessories. At the end of the five-hour class, students had the option of touring the growing operation at the Denver dispensary Karmaceuticals.

THC University co-founders Matt Jones, 24, and Freeman LaFleur, 25, said they had been looking for a way to enter the industry for the past couple of years.

“When Amendment 64 passed, we saw this industry that is going to go boom and no education to go with it,” Jones said.

Under Amendment 64, people 21 and older in Colorado can legally use and possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana and grow up to six marijuana plants.

Christopher and Ginger Grider drove to Colorado from New Mexico to take the class. Ginger Grider uses medical marijuana to help treat lupus, fibromyalgia and post-traumatic stress disorder. The couple wants to learn how to grow at home.

“I want to know what I am getting and how it is grown,” Ginger Grider said.

The class was held in a classroom in the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria campus but was not associated with any accredited university. As a condition of holding the class on campus, where the use and possession of marijuana are not allowed, students saw demonstrations on tomato plants instead of marijuana plants.

In addition to holding more classes in March, Jones and LaFleur are working to create Job Board, a system where students who complete certificate programs can connect with dispensaries and other marijuana businesses that are looking for employees. Currently, the law does not require any certification to grow marijuana plants.

Recreational stores, where legal recreational marijuana can be sold, will not open for about another year.

“We’re trying to create standards in the industry so people can get consistency,” LaFleur said.

Ian Banister, who attended Saturday’s class, said he is considering starting his own growing operation.

“Obviously, there’s an interest,” Banister said. “There’s a lot going on, and I want to make sure I get it right.”

Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jsteffendp