5 min
Not much comes close to the satisfaction of growing your own psychoactive fungi. And you don’t need any experience or expertise to cultivate your own supply at home—just some enthusiasm and excitement!
Shroom growers have always acted under the radar, using makeshift setups and experimental methods to produce successful flushes.
Over time, these methods have evolved to produce better yields. Monotub tek represents the pinnacle of magic mushroom growing techniques. This method provides hefty harvests and requires little effort and cost. Check out how to grow shrooms this way below!
WHAT IS MONOTUB TEK?
Monotub tek involves growing psychoactive fungi in a modified tub, tote, or container. By tweaking this basic household item, cultivators can create the ideal microclimate that mushrooms need to grow.
A monotub keeps humidity levels high, but features air holes that allow for adequate gas exchange. A substrate lines the base of the monotub and contains all of the nutrients mushrooms need to grow properly. Eventually, the mycelium will colonise the entire substrate and create a giant network. Soon enough, a forest of fruiting bodies will emerge.
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WHY USE MONOTUB TEK TO GROW MAGIC MUSHROOMS?
The simple answer to this question: yield. Monotub tek outperforms every other home method when it comes to production. It might not be the stealthiest or most space-friendly option, but it certainly delivers when it comes time to harvest. Plus, monotub tek allows growers to focus all of their efforts on a single structure. In comparison, fiddling around with separate mycelium cakes and grow chambers requires considerably more effort. Overall, monotub tek is easy, affordable, and simple.
MATERIALS NEEDED TO BUILD A MONOTUB
To build your own monotub, you’ll need the following items:
EQUIPMENT
- Stanley knife
- Lighter
- Marker pen
- Tape measure
- Large spoon/stirring stick
- 55–60l tub
- Large tote
- 18–20l bucket
- Large oven bag
- Large pot
- Pressure cooker (15l or bigger)
- Black bin bag
- Micropore tape
- Aluminium foil
- Poly-Fil
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Spray bottle
FOR THE SUBSTRATE
- Half a brick of coco coir
- 5l coarse vermiculite
- 3.75l cow manure
- 1.75–2l water
- Hydrated lime
- 5l mushroom spawn
HOW TO BUILD A MONOTUB
Now that you have all the supplies you need, use the instructions below to craft your own monotub and grow some mushrooms!
MAKING THE MONOTUB
Begin by measuring 12cm up from the bottom of the tub. As a typical substrate level is anywhere between 7 and 11cm, this 12cm point is where the bottom of the holes will be; just above substrate level.
Once you've made this measurement, it is now time to mark two holes. To do this, you'll want to split the length of the tub into thirds. For example, a tub measuring 42cm long with be split into three 14cm sections. The holes should be placed on the dividing lines. Also, it is essential to mark a hole under the handles of the tub. While there is no exact measurement required, you can simply drill into the tub under the handles or cut close to the top.
Once your box has been marked, the holes will need to be cut out. This can be done with a 1.5 inch (38.1mm) hole saw, drill bit, or simply by carving them out with a heated Stanley knife. However, extra care needs to be taken as the tubs can crack and break should you be too hard on them. Don't worry, though, as any cracks or splits can be glued or taped back together!
Lastly, you'll want to add a liner to the tub. The liner is in place to stop any wayward pins from growing on the side of the container. Although there's nothing wrong with them growing there, ideally you'll want to keep them centred in the tub for easier harvesting. A regular, everyday black trash bag will work perfectly as a liner.
Lay the bag inside the tub and make sure it fits the base of the container snugly. Then, cut the bag so the top of it falls just below the holes made on the long side. You can tape the edges for a more secure fit, although this isn't absolutely necessary. All that's left to do is fill the tub with substrate, and your monotub is ready to go.
WHAT IS THE BEST SUBSTRATE FOR MONOTUB TEK?
The substrate provides all of the nutrients your mycelium will need throughout the grow. Mushrooms aren't fussy eaters and will eat a lot of different things. However, we've found this to be the best substrate when growing magic mushrooms. It renders consistent results and a complete nutrient package to produce thick and healthy fruiting bodies.
Place the half brick of coco coir in a 18–20l bucket. Bring 1.75–2l of water to boil and pour into the bucket, cover, and leave for 15 minutes. Return to the mixture and break it up evenly with a stick. Let it sit and hydrate for one hour.
Place 3.75l of cow manure, two teaspoons of hydrated lime, and 5l of coarse vermiculite into the large tote. Mix thoroughly. Add the prepared coco coir on top and mix thoroughly again.
Transfer the substrate into the oven bag, push out any excess air, and seal it closed. Pierce a few holes into the top and cover each one with micropore tape. Place the bag into your pressure cooker and cook for 90 minutes at 103kPa. Let your device depressurise and cool down overnight to remain on the safe side.
INTRODUCING THE SPAWN
Empty the oven bag into the bottom of the monotub and place your spawn on top. Distribute into the mixture as evenly as possible. Spread it out so it flattens, but avoid pressing the top of the substrate.
Cover the mixture with a sheet of aluminium foil and poke holes in the top to allow it to breathe. Cover the holes with micropore tape, then cover the holes on the side of the monotub as well. Use tightly stuffed balls of Poly-Fil to fill up the larger squares near the top of the tub.
Place the lid on the tub and leave your spawn to colonise the substrate for 10 days at around 26°C.
FRUITING
After 10 days have passed, remove the foil and apply a casing layer. Combine three parts vermiculite and one part water in the large tote and mix until it becomes hydrated. Add the casing layer up to 1–1.5cm deep.
Use a spray bottle to mist the walls of the tub, then close the lid securely. Place your monotub in an area illuminated by ambient light. Never place the tub in direct sunlight. Try to maintain a temperature of 21°C and keep a fan running close by to boost fresh air exchange. You should see fruits beginning to form in 5–14 days! Harvest them just before the veil beneath the cap begins to break.
POTENTIAL UPGRADES TO THE MONOTUB
Now that you know how to grow magic mushrooms using monotub tek, we’ll discuss some upgrades you can use to boost your yields further.
Heat mats
Heat mats are a simple way to maintain an optimal temperature. Place them directly under your monotub if things start to get too cold.
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Air exchange system
Installing an air exchange system will guarantee that your mushrooms get all the oxygen they need. Cut an additional hole in the side of the tub to mount a small computer fan. Plug it into a cycle timer to automate this handy function.
Humidity control
Maintaining optimal humidity is hugely important when growing mushrooms. Push the tube of a fogger in through one of the Poly-Fil squares (make the hole bigger if you need to). Plug your fogger into a humidity controller, and fix the controller’s sensor into the monotub. Set the controller's upper limit to 90% humidity and the lower limit to 75% humidity to completely automate this function. Keep a thermo-hygrometer in your grow space so you can quickly analyse the humidity and temperature of the environment.
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LED light strip
Although your shrooms will grow well in ambient light, they’ll thrive under an LED light bar. Fix a light strip to the inside of the lid using sticky pads and drill an extra hole in the wall to feed the wire through.
GROW FORTH
You'll achieve a fantastic harvest using the guide above. Growing mushrooms is a truly magical experience from start to finish. Rigging up your own monotub can seem like hard work at first; however, it quickly pays off. Watching your mycelium run through the substrate will fill you with joy. Plus, seeing the network leave the growing medium and form the 3D mushroom matrix simply blows the mind. Overall, using a monotub provides the best possible yields in a small amount of space. Good luck and happy growing!
