Basics of How a MonoTub Works - Understand Fruiting Conditions, Gas Exchange for Growing Mushrooms

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I've used monotubs before, but I had never really dove deep on the inner workings of one. I decided that I'd do some research to help my understanding of one, and hopefully with this gained knowledge I can improve my methods for utilizing a monotub in the future.
Monotubs are a tool popularized by PF Tek, a commonly used method for growing mushrooms at home. They are really easy to construct, inexpensive and pretty much hands-off when it comes to growing mushrooms.
I hope you find this video useful. As always, I'm looking to increase my knowledge of mushroom cultivation, and I'd love any feedback that you might have.

[@MarkStewart78723]

*Clearly describes the process and tech behind mushroom cultivation in less than five minutes. A new world record! :) Well done!!!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Haha! Thanks!

[@growmiezhomiez8760]

Finally...

[@vgames6792]

@@OneEarthMushrooms very good, how you deal with spores? polyfill wont stop them right? Or you keeping it out of living spaces?

[@kiraya271]

​@@vgames6792хлор убивает зелёную плесень

[@callumb291]

Just embarrassed myself to myself by blowing the screen when the pencil shavings were on the paper 😂😂😂

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

I think it worked! The shavings are gone now 😂😂😂

[@niknik7470]

Fuckin aye bud

[@Nazdaq05]

Lol humanity. We're so weird. I'm sure you were just the first to post it out loud 🤣

[@trippyflow8217]

I did the same thing lmao

[@jonathanlapointe6262]

That's okay, I have caught myself trying to pinch zoom reality, More than once!

[@Tomgilgan]

FINALLY! an actual explanation of the science instead of amateurs teaching amateurs based off random videos of other amateurs growing mushrooms with no higher level understanding of why they are doing what they are doing. I know feel like I have the clarity to begin my grow 🙏

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks for watching! Hey, I always say that we are all amateurs and we're all continuously learning. Everyone has something to teach us, we just have to open our minds. How's your grow going?

[@blazeaglory]

Great video but one thing... The micro pore tape does not allow for air exchange. It only allows for gassing out. It needs a bit of pressure to be able to push through. All my bottom holes that are covered in tape show outward pressure by pushing out and making the tape on the open area of each hole look like a dome or bump. At this stage the entire tub is warm. As the mycelium begins to make its connections you can take off the tape and allow for the fresh air intake cycle to start and the mushrooms will begin to fruit. Yes eventually it will fruit with or without tape(if there are at least some knots) but taking off the tape speeds up the process and if removed at the perfect time you will get fruiting roughly 1 to 3 days later and continued colonization. If you take the tape off too soon the hyphae stop or slow down quite a bit and any kind of movement comes almost to a stand still. You want to wait and take the tape off when at least 75% of substrate has some kind of mycelium covering it. It doesnt have to be thick or dense but at least have some "knots" or over laps. It doesnt have to have pins/ Having a too dry of a substrate also creates problems if the tape is taken off. The tape holds in moisture and a day or two after its off, if the substrate is under field capacity, things kind of start looking skinnier and slow growing. Misting then becomes necessary. Too wet of a substrate will need additional actions for higher rates of fresh air circulation and the lid will need to be lifted off periodically during the day until the tub and mycelium look "field capacity". To obtain field capacity of the substrate I boil roughly 3 gallons of water and 1 tbsp. gypsum to hydrate and pasteurize the coco coir for 24 hours in a large orange "Gatorade" insulated water dispenser. I put roughly 1.5 to 2 bricks of coco into a clean pillow case and fill the dispenser almost to the top. Soak the substrate for 24 hours with lid on. The next day, when you take it out by the pillow case, make sure you're somewhere where you can get brown water everywhere. If its dripping wet just twist the pillow case full of wet substrate and squeeze a tiny bit until not dripping but still wet. Prior to adding to the fruiting tub, dump it out of the pillow case into a regular 27qt tub with lid and break up all the pieces then firmly squeeze each handful over a bucket until barely wet but crumbly and not dripping. When you're ready, mix the substrate with spawn into the bottom 2" of your 27qt tub then gently pat it flat with your hand, then add on top of that another layer of substrate only 1" to 2" thick and pat down flat and level with your hand. That is the casing layer covering your spawn/substrate mix. Finish by securing the lid. If done properly this method is self sufficient until harvest and you will never have to open the lid until harvest times. With proper hole alignment and numbers, proper field capacity substrate (I only use coco coir so far), proper temps(roughly 80deg F during colonization and under 78 for fruiting), proper timing for removal of micro pore tape, this tub is the perfect little (I use 27q tubs) semi self sufficient mushroom growing chamber. Having so many holes does make for a harder soak for additional flushes tho... Also, to stop any kind of unwanted visitors via the open holes, just wrap the tub in panty hose!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

What an amazing write up on your technique! Thank you for sharing!

[@blazeaglory]

@@OneEarthMushrooms Thanks! I figure I could add some pointers to your awesome video! Hit me up and I'll send you some pics of my tubs

[@devoid3227]

Somebody finally answered one of my biggest questions, could we take off the micron tape when they're fruiting because mine has been getting pretty warm inside. I have two substrates inside a shotgun fruiting chamber, now I know with this size I should've put only one, and since the bodies starting fruiting it's been getting warmer. At this stage, I thought it's less likely to be contaminated if I remove the micron tap but I've been looking to make sure it is fine.

[@sogeorgetownx6741]

My respects @blazeaglory you took your time to explain a process, thank you!!!!

[@rickytorres9089]

In short your "shocking" them a second time. That's interesting but make senses. Regular plants are the same with reproduction/producing edible fruits in larger amounts.

[@selig7]

I’ve been searching for this information for months. It finally put into perspective everything I need for this bulk grow.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

So awesome! Really happy to hear that the info was helpful for you! Let me know if you have any other ideas, I love making videos based on the community's thoughts.

[@techytech1907]

OneEarth Mushrooms it’s astonishing considering the depths of the internet, this is the only video that covers this process. It answers so many questions in one go.

[@1871corporationUSA]

Sterilite with the multi latch tubs are the best. Flip lid upside down with latches up. Dont need holes, no polyfill, no tape

[@StagnantMizu]

@@OneEarthMushrooms make a video about a self-sustaining ecosystem like the ones Foo the Floweerhorn makes!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

@@StagnantMizu love Foo! I'm actually building an aquaculture setup right now. It's going to utilize a pump and grow lights, but will grow food and keep the fish happy!

[@amthatone8354]

This was actually insanely helpful, turns out i introduced fresh air a little bit early, still hoping for pins but glad I watched this👍

[@Jon-wf3tg]

This is the best damn description of how this works on the internet

[@NinjaSmote]

Holy shit a mycologist that can draw? instantly interested, very good stuff.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Honestly, it helps me so much to draw things out. I have to be able to visualize something in order to understand it. Glad you like it! I'm hoping to make more illustrations soon.

[@thegreatecb]

Does anyone know if you need a clear lid for a monotub?

[@lucidchem]

you can certainly do without it, but it helps with getting the mushrooms to grow up, and form neat and tall fruiting bodies.

[@lucidchem]

grow upwards*

[@samuelbonne4047]

best explanation on youtube you deserve a medal

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Haha! Thanks for the complement, and thanks for watching!

[@edwardgrand]

This is the best and most concise explanation I've ever heard for all the variables involved. Thank you!

[@kimwrexxxx]

Finally someone who understands how to explain this. I was so sick of scouring forums. You're great and you should FEEL GREAT. I've been growing with PF tek and my yields make me want to cry they are so tiny, I'm finally setting up two monotubs and moving forward here with some better tek and this was a wondeful walk through to clarify everything. Do you have any advice on additional flushes?

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Hi KL, sorry it took me so much time to get back to you. I've been struggling a bit with motivation lately and communicating with the world has felt intimidating for some reason. Additional flushes are usually pretty easy...the general process is to clean the fruiting block of any fruiting bodies (including any tiny "aborts") and soak it water for about 12 hrs. The difficult part is then draining off the water; I've contemplated installing some sort of drain in my tubs to facilitate this. After the water is drained, put the tub back into colonization conditions (cover the holes with solid tape) and wait for pins to re-appear, then back into fruiting conditions. I've been able to get 3-4 flushes this way. I'll do a video on it at some point. I just finished loading two monotubs this morning, so I should have plenty of things to film in the near future. Thanks for watching. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, I just subbed to your channel and I'm going to watch your videos a bit latter today. I'm going through a similar experience, so it's nice to see someone who is openly talking about mental health.

[@heatherdawn3344]

@@OneEarthMushrooms Respect your sharing and willingness to be honest and vulnerable ❤️Such rare traits these days

[@davidrichardson7863]

@@OneEarthMushrooms thank you

[@Succit_ez]

Where do u get ur spore syringe from?

[@lonewretch]

@@OneEarthMushrooms I did wonder about second+ flushes with tubs, no one explained the draining process. Every time I search the idea, I come up with the same forum posts, videos, etc.. Randomly your video appeared in my yt list. glad it did, I mean I kinda knew the concept, but knowing it is much better.

[@steffondavis1102]

This helped me so much couldn't have come at a better time

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Awesome! I'm so happy it was helpful! Thanks for watching 😊

[@hotmessjess3390]

You’re a real one sir. It finally makes sense. We are in the presence of a legend.

[@ganjalfcreamcorn8438]

Nice video man, good info! If you just flip the lid upside down you dont have to modify the tote at all. Then it can be used later for storing stuff. Gives the same results IME, but with slightly less work. Give it a whirl if you feel like experimenting haha.

[@PitchPerfectPianos]

FINALLY! Not just a "How" but also a "Why"! Such a key ingredient for a successful recipe. Thank you for this.

[@TaylorRay-uw7ld]

Clear, consistent, accurate content , well done 👍

[@BowlOfChilliWithRice]

absolute legend this was the exact info I was trying to find thank you!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

So happy it was helpful!

[@dazexxx7749]

wow incredibly explained. made it so simple to understand in this fast beautiful straight forward video. truly a masterpiece. I can't wait to grow my own medicine. thank you so much sir.

[@jasonm572]

Simple and straight to the point. Very informative and interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. Your Video collections are also very good too, thanks.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks Jason! I'm happy you like it, and I appreciate your kind words!

[@phreakymusic]

Love this kind of video, please do more illustrations like this! These kinds of basics are definitely needed for this hobby because of all of the cryptic and misinformation floating around the internet :)

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Brett! I'd love to do more illustrations, but I'm short on ideas! Anything you'd like to see?

[@phreakymusic]

@@OneEarthMushrooms you could do something about agar and mycelium, maybe how mushrooms grow in the wild, maybe basic mushroom anatomy

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

@@phreakymusic great ideas! How mushrooms grow in the wild is fascinating to me, I think I'll do that one soon, thanks for the ideas!

[@phreakymusic]

@@OneEarthMushrooms some mushrooms communicate with the trees around them. I think that's incredible

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

@@phreakymusic isn't that the craziest thing ever! My mind is blown on a daily basis by the things that fungi do. It's almost like they are a completely selfless entity that exist to serve the rest of the planet....or does the rest of the planet exist to serve the mushrooms 🤔 Haha so many exciting developments with fungi in medicine, industry, food, pollution cleanup, etc...I think we've only scratched the surface of what fungi are capable of.

[@moisesaramos3229]

Thank you for the share. This really explains a lot about the theory and applied sciences involved. I'm just colonizing my grain getting ready to do a bulk spawn into the appropriate substrate.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Hope it goes well for you! Happy you enjoyed the video :)

[@wncmartin]

That was the best explanation I have ever heard about this.

[@m0rc0v]

this is one of the easiest and best explanation of the whole thing... seriously !

[@justinw867]

What a great video, thank you! Every other tek ive seen has the tub ventilated throughout the whole process...but this vid is the only one that gets into the science behind the gas/air exchange, so im going with this method.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Hope you have great results! Keep us posted!

[@ferretappreciator]

This is a really great topic. Anyone can make a video tutorial making a monotub, but it's important to understand how these things work if you want to truly be better. Really cool video

[@chriskitchen1536]

Hey! You have provided the most concisely informative video on the Monotub technique that I’ve yet to come across. Thank you sir!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you, Chris!

[@hrstruggle]

Amazing video, well done. My additional question about when to install micropore tape was answered. Thank you so much!

[@kmenh25187]

Now thats was a DECENT VIDEO! Great job!

[@hillbillyherb]

Great demo and mad art skills!

[@danielche2349]

Amazing scientific explanation! Very clear and insightful!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@coltonhart.videos]

Awesome Video.. Very easy to understand & straight to the point.. love it!

[@detritusman]

Great easy graphic explanation!! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@Stephen_Eee]

This is a really great video, I've been bumbling my way through for about two years, one tub would be awesome another not, other videos show you how to grow, but the knowledge I just picked up for Why it grows is going to help a lot.

[@jazzf4n889]

The best explanation and most simple of a monotub I have seen 👍

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Awwwh thanks!

[@cadelkadell1666]

You are the best. Im sharing this with everyone!

[@thomasreto2997]

So exact, well explained, you answered about 20 questions I had in a couple minutes. Excellent.. thank you. 🌈😃🤙

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Haha so glad I could help!!! Thanks for watching, Thomas.

[@fibranijevidra]

That is well explained and nicely illustrated. Thank you.

[@bijanshadnia3620]

Perfectly Illustrated and explained thank you

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you for the compliment! Really glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@BlueCrow89]

THANK YOU! I don't want to simply follow steps, i want to understand the science behind it! Took me forever to find the most basic chemical requirements needed for mycelium growth!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you! I'm trying to do more content on the "why" in addition to content on "how". I think the "how" is a lot easier to understand if you know the "why".

[@BlueCrow89]

@@OneEarthMushrooms definitely! I have a ton of questions if you ever plan on doing a Q&A video. But I'll be subscribing regardless!

[@SohanSingh-cx7ec]

Great video. Learned a lot. Thanks

[@FairyRingMushrooms]

Great video. Nice work.

[@dancovey4704]

Amazing video I couldn't explain it properly to a friend I just sent your video to him thankyou much for your amazing content

[@seekingsomethingshamanic]

Honestly this is such an amazing part no one ever speaks of if the fae being related to heat production generated by the block

[@matthewursell8464]

Love this video, Well explained and easy to understand

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you, Matthew!

[@TheHighside12]

Great video mate.

[@ender4life]

Easy to understand, great info!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you!

[@andrewjefferson545]

Excellent video, excellent explanation, thank you so much!

[@zunpphire4ev170]

Easy, simple and guided thanks

[@juliavogel2142]

This helped me understand SO much more. Thank you for this.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Julia! Happy you liked it :)

[@mushroomman7382]

Greatly done video in under 5 minutes!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks!

[@Whycology101]

Beautiful knowledge share, thank you explaining.

[@Fooktard323]

Excellent and informative, thank you .

[@casserCOM]

fantastic video man!

[@guillotinaa]

Although I had this knowledge, the presentation of them is amazing. I think what is missing to be perfect are the ideal parameters of temperature and O2, humidity, as well as luminosity in its luminic stage of fruiting.

[@delikone]

Brilliant explanation.

[@sharonfletcher-medeiros4054]

Im so glad to have found your video.

[@gieselman]

very nicely done ...

[@UncleTeddy314]

you answered a question ive been asking for months!

[@cacogenicist]

As I understand it, increased _evaporation_ (along with the fresh air/O2 increase) is also a significant factor driving fruiting.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

I'll have to do some reading on that. Makes sense though, in nature mushrooms tend to fruit AFTER a big rain, and not during the rain.

[@282OJK]

This was great. Thank you!

[@Tiziano182]

the intak and vent of hot air and co2 was very good info!. i dont see many monotubs with proper palced holes. all are even drilled

[@beefyogurt]

lovely art!

[@thomasswainson2047]

Wish I watched this video before ANY other fruiting video. Thank you

[@Roguecor]

Please do a video on arranging the holes to create sufficient pressure to generate primed air flow through the tub! Great video.

[@ellas3774]

This was soo helpful, thank you really much :)

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Ella! Happy you liked it, and glad it was helpful :)

[@Braxas666]

perfect explanation, thank you so much

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

You're welcome! Thank you!

[@surronzak8154]

This was very informative and I learned a lot, thank you very much

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

You're welcome! Thank you!

[@creekwoodjoe1607]

Skilled teacher!

[@EyeSea]

Extremely useful, appreciate ya!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

You're welcome! So glad it was helpful, thank you for watching!

[@DucktapeMycology]

Great video.

[@alex_efosa1]

love this video man was really informative

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks! It was strangely satisfying to make, I'm not a very good artist but I think I did okay with this one. Took me a few tries though! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@alex_efosa1]

@@OneEarthMushrooms definitely subscribing, keep it up with the videos :)

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

@@alex_efosa1 Awesome man, I really appreciate it! It's great to have community here, and others that we can all learn from and share knowledge. Thank you for the kind words!

[@BLACKHOLEBBQ]

MAN!!! this is what I need.... simple breakdown explanation of how system work... just sub'd & gonna mash on your vids...

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks for watching!!! Really happy you found the video helpful!

[@BLACKHOLEBBQ]

@@OneEarthMushrooms I too like some wood work, made a domino table out of simple building wood 🤣 came out pretty good.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

@@BLACKHOLEBBQ ah! Cool man! Yeah, woodworking is my happy place

[@victoriabell4436]

Nicely done! Thank you

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you, Victoria!

[@lukewand]

I have watched this video many times before growing, and am coming back to it during a growth... Really appreciate it

[@MisterNiles]

Thanks. Great video. Thank you for doing in minutes, what endless hours on shroomery couldn't. That being said, I think I might go with PastyWhite's EZ Dialed Tek for my first mono.

[@Julie-rf5xs]

Very helpful !! Thank you 🙏

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Julie!

[@fighttilltheendfighting6819]

great explanation !

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you!

[@Totobogui]

Excellent video, thank you very much

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

First, I love your user name! Haha! Awesome! And you're very welcome, thank you so much for watching, I hope we can all learn something together!

[@moddkilla]

That was fantastic.

[@wizardss3684]

Wow that was very informative, well done 👍 I’m gonna sub now🍄❤️

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Ethan!

[@tomsexton4880]

Thank you, well explained.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thans Tom!

[@rfyock009]

Ty so much, liked & subscribed!

[@mathieuhagg7339]

Very interesting - thank you very much! Appreciated

[@dgs931]

Brilliant thanks very much for doing this excellent video

[@rise-amorph8178]

Great drawing

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@kellenfernandez995]

thanks for this video bro

[@peggyvucenik2849]

You explained this so well and made it super easy for anyone to understand! Thank you! Dubtub video?

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks Peggy! I haven't done a dubtub, but I just added it to my list of future videos!

[@BuchelattiBuchelatti]

Man you are genious! Amazing content bro)

[@employaiptyltd]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Brendan! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@sabrinawanderer7560]

Excellent! 👍

[@emils529]

Nice video. Keep it up!🍄🤝🏿❤

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks for watching! I'm really enjoying making the videos and experimenting with lots of different techniques. Glad you enjoyed!

[@bodyvitalproject]

thank you... know i understand how it works... great job...👍🔥

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@chipmeister111]

good info, thanks

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks Chip!

[@andyknode603]

Nice video! Keep it up!

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks Andy!

[@andyknode603]

@@OneEarthMushrooms no problem! Mush love!

[@SkyeRiv]

Great great GREAT VIDEO!!

[@MultiBadman123456789]

Love the drawings

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks Ben!

[@RickSkunk]

Great video

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thanks Rick!

[@jeffreysabo1295]

This was wonderfully informative. I didn't do PFtek this time (just cracking the lid/fanning for FAE) But i think my next species or 2 I am going to go for micro pore tape or PFtek. Build a little resistance to unwanted visitors! My first (ever) tub is currently battling trichoderma. With a good amount of fruits growing... still gonna harvest, probably get rid of the tub after a flush. If anyone has comments or advice, I am certainly open to it!!

[@ravon1982]

What is fae

[@thomasreto2997]

Great content and to the point! 🌈😃🤙

[@OneEarthMushrooms]

Thank you Thomas!

[@stanleyjrayotte5366]

Love it !