Trust us, we’ve thought of everything—you’ll even get a digital hydrometer/temperature gauge, sterilizing spray, and a drying, curing, and storage system for your mushrooms after you’ve grown them. And make no mistake about it… you’ll grow them with this kit! (Maybe more than you’ll know what to do with!). If you’ve been looking into or involved with the DIY mushroom cultivation community for any length of time, there’s little doubt that you’ve heard of one of the most common tools of the trade… the mighty monotub! We’ll be blunt: if you’re a first-time mushroom grower, please save yourself the heartache and don’t attempt to cultivate outside! You can later, once you’ve developed a bit more of an intimate relationship and understanding of fungi, its needs, and how all of this works. Learn how to grow mushrooms indoors using a monotub first, then go and try outside. Monotubs are a tried-and-true method; the hard work of figuring everything out has been done for you. A monotub is a modified plastic tub, like those ones you see at big box stores, typically used for storing or moving items. They look like huge Tupperware, essentially. In the context of mushroom cultivation, a monotub is used as a fruiting chamber (the container in which fungi is cultivated).

Inflatable Monotub - Shiny Spores

Next, the monotub needs to have a lid. Most plastic tubs include them, but it’s a good idea to use lids that have latches or otherwise strongly “clasp” onto the tub itself; this is, again, to prevent contamination from entering the tub. The monotub we include with our kits has a very sturdy, latch-style lid. Another benefit of this unique bit of kit, is it’s ability to fold down for easy storage after use. If you want a break from your projects, if you’re moving house, if you want to take your kit out for the night, etc., you can easily do so with no hassle! We think you probably already know the answer to this question if you’ve been paying attention throughout this article! That about does it for the must-have, critical features of a monotub. Now you understand what we meant by deceptively simple! While it’s true that a monotub is “just” a plastic bin, it’s so much more than that. But What About Outdoor Growing? Do I HAVE to Have a Monotub?

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You may see monotubs referred to as “monotub tek”. The word tek is a slang term used in the mushroom growing community that just means technique, although some like to think it’s a fancier acronym that stands for “Technical Educational Knowledge”. Either way, monotubs have been perfected over the years and they’re so commonly recommended because they work. A monotub is a very important piece of the mushroom cultivation “puzzle,” but it’s far from the last thing you’re going to want to have before you get started. We strongly recommend taking a moment to read our detailed article Everything You Need for Amateur Mycology at Home. They’re the reliable tanks of the mycology world, withstanding not only multiple flushes of a singular project, but for various projects! Yes, you heard that right- they’re reusable! After your existing project has exhausted it’s multiple flushes, clear out the old substrate, give it a clean and re-fill like you had before. Perfect for those of us who have had enough of single-use kits and want something that lasts a bit longer! But what is a monotub, exactly? Why are they so popular? Why are they recommended for both absolute beginners and expert fungi cultivators alike? Monotubs really do embody the three “E’s” you saw in the title of this article: easy, efficient, and effective.

Monotub - Etsy UK Monotub - Etsy UK

All monotubs have holes cut or drilled into them, typically four to six, with two on each side of the length of the tub and one on each side of the width. The number of holes depends on the size of the tub, but usually one every eight or so inches is right. The purpose of the holes is to allow air flow to enter the monotub, since fungi, like humans, require fresh air to survive. These holes must be approximately an inch and a half in diameter or thereabouts—large enough to let air through, but not so large that they can’t be properly filtered. Many mushroom cultivators choose to DIY their own monotubs rather than buying a professionally made tub. If you really and truly want to DEY (do everything yourself), this can be a fine option—however, there are a few compelling reasons as to why you would want to get a professionally made monotub like the one included in The Monster Mushroom Company All-in-One Kit.Monotubs have always been an essential part of your journey into the world of mycology. They’ve been trusted by many over the years who would prefer a larger yield when harvesting their projects. Finding a plastic tub with the right lid type can be difficult. If you’ve ever used plastic bins before to store or transport items, you likely already know exactly how flimsy they can be—we suggest strong lids with latching mechanisms, and that’s what we use for our monotubs. These tubs are more expensive (if you can even find them at retail stores), but well worth the effort and expense.

Monotubs Explained: Easy, Efficient, Effective - Monster

In that article, you’ll learn about all of the items and equipment you’ll want alongside your monotub. Don’t worry—none of the items are particularly exotic or expensive (after all, cultivating mushrooms at home is actually one of the most affordable and accessible hobbies around), but you do want to at least know what other things you need. It’s also protected from outside invaders by a contained wall of air (courtesy of the air pump included) with intermittent holes which you can choose to fill with the included air filter bungs, or seal of completely with the included red caps. The lid itself is fastened on with handy velcro tabs, meaning your project is secured from outside invaders when closed. Please be aware that whilst the lid is off, unless you are using a Flow Hood, your project will be susceptible to contamination.You will receive your Inflatable Monotub with an air pump, 12 filter bungs, 12 red caps, gloves, and a puncture repair kit. Cultivating mushrooms outside is more difficult because you don’t have control over the elements in the same way that you do indoors—you obviously can’t prevent contaminants and bacteria and the neighbor’s cat from messing up all of your hard work in the same way that you can with an indoor growing setup. Many mushroom cultivators do have successful outdoor grows, and you can be one of them, but learn the ropes first.

Inflatable Monotub Kit - Etsy Australia Boomer Shroomer Inflatable Monotub Kit - Etsy Australia

No, you don’t “have” to have a monotub, but the reason that so many mushroom growers use them is simple: they work.

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