All-in-One Bags or Monotub Bins: Which Mushroom Growing Method is Best for You?

All-in-one mushroom grow bags like our ShroomTek and monotub grow chambers like our Boomr Bin are popular choices for home cultivation indoors that offer convenience and peace of mind for successfully growing edible and medicinal mushrooms.

Each approach differs in size, yield, cost, reusability, and inoculation. Which species and substrates you can use with each method will also be covered, as well as environmental factors like temperature, humidity, light, and fresh air exchange (FAE). Let’s explore and compare both methods based on these factors!

All-in-one (AIO) mushroom grow bags like the ShroomTek system are self-contained mushroom fruiting chambers that come with all the necessary ingredients to grow dung-loving mushrooms discretely and comfortably at home. All you need is a spore or culture syringe and there is no need to mix different substrates or procure expensive sterilization equipment. All-in-one bags are available for a fraction of the cost of a single monotub, and are pre-sterilized making them less susceptible to contamination overall.

Benefits of using an all-in-one system include:

• User friendly
• Low contamination risk
• Space-efficient (single 3lb bag)
• Includes Spore Boostr to speed up use with a spore syringe
• Low-maintenance (inject and wait!)
• Fast colonization

Monotub mushroom grow chambers like our Boomr Bin are a popular method for growing edible and medicinal mushrooms at home. Monotubs have a large volume that gives cultivators more space to grow and their modular design gives beginners and more experienced growers the freedom to use both passive and automated environmental control systems to dial in factors such as humidity and FAE. Monotubs are relatively simple to construct, and cost about two to three times as much as a single all-in-one bag.

Benefits of using the monotub system include:

• User friendly
• Reuseable
• Customizable substrate
• More control over environmental factors
• Large volume (25 lbs) means larger yield
• Stackable

• Ease of Use: Designed for simplicity, ideal for beginners with pre-sterilized bags containing all necessary components.
• Compactness: Space-efficient and suitable for indoor cultivation in limited spaces.
• Includes Spore Boostr: A nutrient-rich broth to speed up mycelium
• Reduced Contamination Risk: Closed environment minimizes contamination risks.
• Smaller Yield: Typically produces a small (but mighty) quantity of mushrooms due to the size of the block.
• Limited Customization: Less control over environmental factors like humidity or substrate mix.

• Customization of Substrate: Tailoring substrate mix to match specific mushroom species' needs.
• High Yield Potential: Larger size allows for ample space, potentially yielding more than smaller grow bags.
• Adaptability: Versatility in accommodating different mushroom species and growing conditions.
• Cost-Effective at Scale: Higher initial setup costs can be offset by higher yields for larger-scale cultivation.
• Contamination Risk: Requires extra attention to cleanliness during substrate preparation.
• Space and Convenience: Takes up more space, better suited for experienced growers with ample space.
• Maintenance: Potential need for more maintenance due to misting, fanning, and larger open-air setups.

Monotubs are 3 to 4 times the volume of a single all-in-one bag, providing ample room for increased mycelial growth and the potential for greater yields overall. As mentioned above, risk of contamination is greater with monotubs but so is the reward due to their greater overall size. While initial setup costs are 3 to 4 times higher for monotubs than all-in-one bags, they prove cost-effective in the long run for large-scale cultivation due to their reusability and potential for increased yields.

All-in-one bags excel in space efficiency and convenience, and are ideal for beginners or those with limited space, while monotubs suit growers with ample space and a keen interest in achieving higher yields through customization and experimentation. All-in-one bags and unmodified, basic monotubs must be manually hydrated while monotubs outfitted with humidity controls will adjust these conditions automatically. FAE cycles oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of the growing environment and is critical for CO2-sensitive species like oyster mushrooms. All-in-one bags must be cut open following colonization to increase FAE while unmodified, basic monotubs have to be fanned manually. Once again, automated monotubs have FAE systems built-in while a basic monotub does not. Optimal growing temperatures and light levels are easier to maintain as most edible and medicinal mushrooms are comfortable growing at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. All-in-one bags can be placed inside an automated monotub system for more environmental control as well.

The choice between growing edible and medicinal mushrooms using an all-in-one mushroom grow bag like North Spore’s ShroomTek or a monotub mushroom grow kit like the Boomr Bin ultimately depends on the grower's experience level, space availability, and personal preferences. Beginners and those with limited space may appreciate the simplicity of an all-in-one bag, while experienced growers looking for more control and higher yields may find monotubs to be the more suitable option. In the end, both methods can lead to deeper understanding of mycology and successful edible and medicinal mushroom cultivation when done with care and attention to detail.