How to Make a Monotub – The Ultimate Monotub Tek Guide

Monotub Tek Technique is a starting point for majority of indoor mushroom growers. The technique is easy, quick & doesn’t require any complicated air or moisture solutions.

Although the monotub method is frequently associated with the development of animal waste Psilocybe* species like P. Cubensis (Coprinus comatus), it can also be used to produce edible species of manure-loving Agaricus (such as white button and cremini) or Shaggy Mane.

Monotubs present nearly infinite opportunities for the creation of novel fresh mushroom cultivation techniques! And now you want to change things. If you replace the bulk substrate that is made of manure with one that is made of hardwood or wood chips, you can also grow oyster, wine caps, chestnut, namekos, and other mushrooms from the Pleurotus family.

Items Needed

• A transparent container, plastic (such those provided by Sterlite) or a already set up monotub
• A liquid culture syringe or A spore syringe
• A fully colonized grain spawn bag or An injection port bag
• If you are going to build your own monotube, a black contractor bag that is impermeable will also be needed
• Poly-fill or Self-adhesive monotub filters
• One spray bottle for alcohol & one spray bottle for water
• A hand drill
• 2-inch hole saw
• Rubber gloves.
• Bulk substrate, such as Boomr Bag for species that like dung or Wood Lovr for those that prefer hardwoods.

Possible improvements for your monotub

• Species that llove hard-wood
• Controlled Moisture
• Humidifier with flexible hose/ Fogger
• To flow air fan is required
• Timer for Cycle

Step 1: Making Mushroom Grain Spawn

Grain spawn is comparable seeds for mushroom producers. A sterile grain that has been completely colonized by mushroom mycelium is Grain Spawn.

Grain spawn can be obtained through numerous methods. If you’re growing a popular type of mushroom that can be eaten, you can buy grain spawn that has been completely colonized. If it’s not too much trouble, remember that agreeing on the species you select, the substrate you’ll use in your monotub will vary. You must first allow your mushroom grain spawn to colonize before using it in your monotub.

If you want to cultivate a rare species of mushroom that enjoys dung, you will have to create it yourself. You will require a sterile grain bag with an injection port to make that.

Sterile grain bags, also known as spawn bags, mushroom grow bags, or grain substrate, contain a mixture of sterilized grains. Ours contains a mixture of moistened millet and wheat berries.) A spore or culture syringe can be used with the bags’ self-healing injection port. Edu Mushroom offers gourmet liquid culture syringes, if you’re looking for well-known edible mushroom varieties. Edu Mushroom offer spore syringes for use in medical applications.

Know the laws in your home or place of employment! Hallucinogenic mushrooms are prohibited to use in some states of US including California. You must be aware that, despite the fact that hallucinatory mushroom spores can be examined under a microscope, they become illegal once they develop hyphae, become mushroom spawn or mycelium, or are used to grow mushrooms.

If you’re searching for pre-made spawn, edumushroom.com

Before starting you should clean your hands, the syringe needle, the injection port bag, and the inoculated area with rubbing alcohol and never forget to wear rubber gloves. You should Additionally, pay close attention to the bag to look for any small tears or contaminants. Any tears will put the bag’s sterility in jeopardy.  Simply infuse 2.5ml of fluid culture or spore needle into the port to immunize your infusion port grain pack in a clean (or at least uncommonly perfect) climate, like our NocBox.

To ensure that your online-purchased sterile grain bag did not suffer damage during shipping, it is safer to wait at least a week before injecting it. If the bag shows any signs of contamination (typically green mold), throw it away.

If you require an Edu Mushroom’s substitute, please get in touch with us. Place your bag in a cool, shaded area where it can colonize. Temperature must be balanced between the highest range of 75 Fahrenheits and lowest of 55 Farenheits. You would be able to see the growth of mycelium on the grain after few days.

RECOMMENDED: Difference Between Mushroom Spawn from Mushroom Spores

As per the type and strength and type of your culture, your spawn would be ready starting from half a month to a month or in some cases it may take longer. When you see that the bag is altogether white with mycelium, your spawn is ready for use.

Step 2: Preparation of Sterile Bulk Substrate

The sort of mushroom that you are developing in your tub, the mass substrate mixture might change altogether. If you are growing mushrooms that love wood, it is recommended for you to search for wood chips like oak or maple wood. If you are growing manure loving species, continue to read the article.

Specie that like Manure we advise to utilize our Boomr Bag product. You will not need to go through the difficulty of tracking down your own materials and making horse crap at home, as it has been created through numerous long periods of Agaricus testing, is easy to utilize, and is completely ready and cleaned.

An ideal manure is the one that has been decomposed for a minimum of six months. If you wish to make your own manure, you can buy coco coir from most of the grow shops that expertise on hydroponic and urban gardening. It is important to note that the best horse manure should be resourced from horse farms that give guidance for riding horses etc. In making your own manure substrate the least complex mixture to use is the one that contains combination is 50% coco coir and 50% horse manure.

At this step, you have the choice of cooking or baking your mass substrate to pasteurize it. The two ingredients would be mixed, and the mix should be hydrated to “field limit.” When you crush it as hard as possible, a couple of dribbles of water ought to spill out of a fistful of the substrate. While testing it the hydration level Add extra coco coir since, supposing that you add more, the blend would be hydrated. you can assuming that it needs more water, gradually keep on adding water.

If you are using baking method, simply heat the oven to 170 degrees & prepare the bulk substrate on baking sheets covered with tin foil for at least 2.5 hours.

For the steam method, cook the substrate in pressure cooker or it can be steaed until it reaches a temperature of 160–180 degrees Fahrenheit, the substrate should be bagged in filter patch bags. The substrate should be bagged in filter patch bags before being cooked in a pressure cooker or steamed until it reaches a temperature of around 160–180 degrees F. before using it let the bulk substrate to cool down completely.

Step 3: Build your own Monotub

A monotub may be created in a variety of methods and using a variety of materials. Large Tupperware-style containers, such those produced by Sterility, are most often utilized. If you decide to use a transparent plastic container of this kind, we advise lining the bottom of your monotub with an opaque plastic bag to assist avoid mushrooms from developing on the edges or bottom. Even though they are extremely hard to harvest, these mushrooms will consume important nutrients and energy from your substrate. It is best to stop them from sprouting in the first place and let the mycelium concentrate all of its efforts on developing mushrooms in the tub’s conveniently accessible areas.

We can use range of methods and range of materials to build our monotube for instance Large Tupperware-style containers are mostly used. We usually advise lining the bottom of your monotube using an opaque plastic bag if you decide to use a transparent plastic container made by Sterilite. This is to avoid mushrooms from developing on the edges or bottom. These mushrooms consume nutrients and energy from your substrate and they are extremely hard to harvest. In the tub’s easily accessible areas let the let the mycelium concentrate all of its efforts on developing mushrooms and it is best to stop them from sprouting in the first place.

We discovered that spray-painting the exterior of your monotub is preferable to using a liner when writing this post and the accompanying video walk-through. The mushroom mycelium will begin to peel away from the edges, when it begins to colonize your monotub, but it will also continue to adhere to your liner. Development of microclimates that are good to side pinning can be prevented through this. Despite our findings that it only marginally reduces the likelihood of side pins, light proofing the lower portion of your monotub is frequently not necessary.

1. For step one, buy the bin of your preference and ensure that it comes with a lid!
2. A modified drill for making larger holes or a hand-drill with a two-inch hole saw can be used. Drill holes will be moved in opposite direction in order to stop the plastic from splitting, drill holes all around the monotub. The monotub should have at least one hole on either end and one hole every eight inches along its length. To stuff the monotube, your holes should be located just above the bulk substrate, just above the liner, or just above any painted portions of the tub.
3. Use monotub filters to close the openings. This will diminish how much airborne particles that enter your tub while permitting the substrate to relax.
4. On the off chance that you are utilizing a project worker sack liner, crease the pack so the top of the liner is around mostly up the side of your monotube, and the bag fits snuggly into your monotub. Your bulk substrate should be placed here.
5. You are now ready to cultivate mushrooms in your monotube, presto!

Step 4: Cleaning your Work Space & Monotub

At this stage you make this absolutely certain that your mushroom culture gains every benefit it can have. This is a very important part! Spray your hands, the place on which you are working, any scissors you could use to pry open your spawn bag, etc. and sterilize your whole tub by filling a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol.

Rub the alcohol all over the bulk substrate bag after spraying it on the outside of the spawn bag.

The clean environment plays a very crucial role, so ensure to see that the space you’re innoculated in is hygienic. Keep in mind the room has been freshly vacuumed if you have pets, but not so lately that there may still be air turbulence or floating particulates.

Close all windows. Close all doors. Take anti-infection measures.

Step 5: Filling Monotube with Mass Substrate and Inoculating it

It is now the enjoyable part! The volume of your monotube will decide how much bulk substrate and spawn you will be utilising. 3 to 5 inches of substrate is ideal. One or two medium-sized tubs should be easily inoculated with one 3lb injection port bag.

In the sterilised monotub or in the lining if you’re using one, you should first sprinkle around an inch of bulk substrate. Check if your bulk substrate is still operating at field capacity by trying to squeeze out a few water drops from it. Before filling your tub, you must add sterilized water to the mixture if it dries out during pasteurization.

After that, add a little dusting of colonized grain spawn. More spawn should be added after another inch of substrate. Until you reach your require depth keep on adding layers of bulk substrate between spawn.

To clean the lid of your monotube, rubbing alcohol should be used.

Apply additional rubbing alcohol by paper towel to the edges of the monotube just above the inoculated bulk substrate just to be safe.

After your monotub is completely colonized, put the lid on it and don’t take it off again!

Maintain the monotub in a room that is comfortable but not overheated, out of intense sun, and with some artificial brightness.

Step 6: Colonization in Monotub

To see it colonized, check on your trash can every day. From each grain spawn location, white patches will start to spread out. They will eventually fully encircle the bulk substrate’s surface. You should be able to see little particles from the mushroom. This is an indication of hasty colonization and sufficient moisture, thus resulting in normal process.

You should search for indications of pinned mushrooms. This typically appears as tiny bunches of thick white mycelium made of white hyphae developing upward from the substrate’s surface.

The rates of colonisation by wood-loving species will differ. Colonization of tubs takes two to three weeks for the majority of dung-loving species.

Step 7: Fruit Appearing

You should cover your monotube, when you begin to notice pins or knots in the hyphae. You can now remove the trash can’s lid without risk.

Spray the bin with water until the 100% coco coir casing is exhibiting symptoms of being moisturized and apply a light, 1/2 to 1 inch coco coir coating to the bin. Recent studies have linked the vermiculite and asbestos contamination would halt the recommendation be some growers of using vermiculite to cover monotubs, Coco coir is a safe, just as effective, replacement.

Keep the bin’s lid slightly open to give some additional oxygen and spray the tub with water every day. To enable the mushrooms to develop in the right side, ensure the bin gets enough light. Light still aids in the healthy and directional growth of mushrooms, despite the fact that they do not photosynthesize like plants.

When the mushrooms reach the desired stage, harvest them. This occurs before the caps have compressed for the majority of species.

Related: FAQ About Fruiting Block Kits

Video Guide

Final Thoughts

Monotubs offer many opportunities to grow mushroom! And now you can also learn this technique by simply following the above mentioned 7 steps process.