Laura Smith
Maintaining the right moisture level in a monotub is crucial for growing mushrooms. Proper hydration helps mycelium colonize effectively, supports healthy mushroom growth, and minimizes the risk of contamination. However, finding the right balance can be tricky, as too much or too little water can hinder the growing process. During the first flush, very little misting is required, and misting is only necessary to prevent the substrate from drying out. An overly wet monotub can cause the mycelium to become waterlogged, leading to stunted growth and increased risk of contamination. Therefore, it is important to achieve the right moisture level and avoid over-misting to create an optimal environment for mushroom cultivation in a monotub.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Watering mushrooms in monotub | All the water mushrooms need during fruiting should already be in the substrate. Misting is only required to prevent the substrate from drying out. |
| Over-misting | Can stall growth and lead to bacterial or mould contamination. |
| Under-misting | Can cause the mycelium to become thin or shrivelled, affecting its vitality and reducing overall mushroom growth. |
| Optimal moisture level | Light condensation in the monotub, but no pooling of water. |
| Misting during the first flush | Very little misting is required during the first flush. |
| Misting after the first flush | Mist heavily after the first flush. |
| Mist frequency | Mist every couple of days if the substrate is dry or there is little to no condensation in the tub. |
| Misting technique | Misting directly onto the casing layer. |
| Casing layer | Acts as a humidity trap, giving more even, full flushes. |
| Spraying the bin with water | If using a casing made of coco coir, spray the bin with water until the casing is fully hydrated. |
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What You'll Learn
Misting is only required when using a SGFC
Misting is only required when using a Shotgun Fruiting Chamber (SGFC). SGFCs are one of the cheapest, easiest, and quickest ways to create a suitable mushroom-growing environment. They are almost maintenance-free, but there are some best practices to follow.
SGFCs have holes on all six sides of the fruiting chamber, which provide a means for gas exchange and allow for fresh air. However, the holes alone are not enough to maintain the necessary humidity levels. Therefore, misting is required to keep the humidity up after fanning in dry air. Misting should be done using a typical spray bottle, thoroughly soaking the inside walls and the perlite foundation with water. It is important to avoid directly spraying the mushroom block, as droplets of water on the mycelium or the mushroom fruit body can cause problems such as bacterial blotch.
Misting and fanning are essential aspects of maintaining a healthy SGFC environment. It is recommended to mist and fan multiple times a day, with misting done every other time the chamber is fanned. A hygrometer is a useful tool to monitor the humidity levels in the chamber, ensuring that they remain optimal for mushroom growth, typically around 95-100% humidity.
In contrast, monotubs are designed to hold the right amount of water from the start, eliminating the need for misting during the initial stages of mushroom growth. Monotubs are closed systems when it comes to humidity, and proper hydration helps the mycelium colonize effectively, supporting healthy mushroom growth and minimizing the risk of contamination. While misting may be necessary in a monotub if it becomes too dry, leading to shrivelled mycelium and stunted mushroom growth, it is not a standard practice like it is in SGFCs.
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Over-misting can cause bacterial or mould contamination
Mushrooms require three critical things to grow: oxygen, water, and food. While humidity is a crucial component for the successful growth of mushrooms, incorrect levels can also introduce the risk of contamination, jeopardizing the health of your crop and the safety of the end product.
To avoid over-misting, it is important to understand that all the water mushrooms need during fruiting should already be in your substrate. The humidity in your fruiting chamber is only to prevent your substrate from drying out. The mushrooms don't need it to grow, as long as there is enough water left in your substrate. Therefore, misting is something you should only do when using a SGFC (Shotgun fruiting chamber). SGFCs have a lot more circulating air and therefore your substrate tends to dry out quicker. A monotub, on the other hand, is a closed system when it comes to humidity.
If you have over-misted your monotub, you can let the excess water evaporate by taking the lid off your monotub and putting it back on upside down. You can even rotate it a little bit so there are air gaps in the corners. You can also use a fan to speed up the evaporation process.
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Mushrooms need oxygen, so too much water can be harmful
Mushrooms need oxygen to grow, and too much water can hinder this process. While mushrooms do not require oxygen to grow, they do “breathe” and exchange gases with the atmosphere. High humidity can cause the fungus to suffocate by disrupting this gas exchange. This is particularly true for home cultivation, where mushrooms are grown in tubs or bags, which can create anaerobic or hypoxic conditions. As a result, it is crucial to ensure frequent gas exchange, or "FAE," when growing mushrooms at home.
Oxygen is one of several critical factors that influence mushroom cultivation, including temperature, pH, light, humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), and moisture. Maintaining the proper levels of these factors is essential for optimal growth and yield. For example, temperature plays a role in how quickly the mycelium colonizes the substrate, with cooler temperatures slowing down colonization and higher temperatures potentially increasing the risk of contamination.
Similarly, oxygen levels can significantly impact mushroom growth. While mushrooms need oxygen, too much or too little can be detrimental. Excess oxygen can cause the mycelium to dry out and become less productive, leading to reduced mushroom fruiting. It can also promote the formation of harmful molds and bacteria that can infect the mushrooms and cause disease. Therefore, maintaining the proper levels of oxygen during cultivation is crucial, which can be monitored using an oxygen analyzer.
In addition to oxygen levels, moisture levels also play a vital role in mushroom growth. Proper hydration helps the mycelium colonize effectively and supports healthy mushroom development. However, too much water can be harmful. An overly wet monotub can cause the mycelium to become waterlogged, hindering its ability to spread and leading to stalled growth. Excess moisture also raises the risk of contamination by bacteria, mold, and other unwanted organisms that thrive in wet conditions. As a result, achieving and maintaining the right moisture level in a monotub are crucial for successful mushroom cultivation.
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Gro Magik monotubs maintain the right moisture level automatically
Maintaining the correct moisture level is crucial for cultivating mushrooms successfully. Proper hydration encourages mycelium colonisation and supports the healthy growth of mushrooms. However, it can be challenging to find the right balance, as too much or too little water can impede mushroom growth.
Gro Magik monotubs are designed to maintain the ideal moisture level automatically, simplifying the process for mushroom cultivators. These monotubs are equipped with field capacity substrate, which holds the perfect amount of moisture from the beginning. This unique feature eliminates the need for manual misting during the first flush, providing a hassle-free approach to moisture management in the early stages of mushroom growth.
The field capacity substrate in Gro Magik monotubs ensures that the substrate is neither too wet nor too dry. This is essential because a dry monotub can lead to shrivelled mycelium, hindering colonisation and resulting in smaller, less dense mushrooms. On the other hand, an overly wet monotub can cause the mycelium to become waterlogged, stall its growth, and increase the risk of contamination by bacteria, mould, and other unwanted organisms.
Gro Magik monotubs address these challenges by automatically maintaining the optimal moisture level. Cultivators can enjoy a hands-off experience during the first flush, knowing that their mushrooms have the ideal conditions for vigorous and healthy growth. This automated moisture management reduces the risk of errors and ensures that cultivators can focus on other aspects of mushroom care, such as providing adequate oxygen and CO2 levels.
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Spray the monotub daily with water during the casing layer stage
Spraying the monotub daily with water during the casing layer stage is crucial for successful mushroom cultivation. Proper hydration helps the mycelium colonize effectively, supporting healthy mushroom growth and minimizing the risk of contamination. However, finding the right balance can be challenging, as too much or too little water can hinder the growing process.
During the casing layer stage, the monotub should be sprayed daily with water to ensure the casing layer is fully hydrated. This layer mimics the natural environment of leaves on a forest floor, providing an excellent environment for pinning mushrooms. The casing layer acts as a humidity trap, resulting in more even and full flushes. By spraying daily, you maintain the right moisture level in the monotub, which is essential for healthy mushroom growth.
It is important to note that an overly wet monotub can create issues for mushroom growth. While the substrate needs to be adequately hydrated, too much water can cause the mycelium to become waterlogged, hindering its ability to spread and leading to stunted or weak mushrooms. Therefore, when spraying daily, it is crucial to avoid over-saturation and ensure there is no pooling water.
To achieve the optimal moisture level, the monotub should be sprayed with water until the casing layer is fully hydrated. This involves adding a thin layer of casing material, such as coco coir, and then spraying with water. By doing this daily, you provide the necessary moisture for the mushrooms while also allowing for adequate oxygen flow, as the lid of the bin should be slightly offset.
Additionally, during the casing layer stage, it is essential to maintain the right temperature and light conditions. The monotub should be placed in a warm spot, receiving indirect sunlight or room light. This triggers the mushroom pinning process, and the light helps the mushrooms grow in the correct direction. Overall, spraying the monotub daily with water during the casing layer stage is a critical step in creating the optimal environment for healthy mushroom growth.
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Frequently asked questions
Watering mushrooms in a monotub is important, but it's more about maintaining the right moisture level than actively watering them. The humidity in the chamber is crucial to prevent the substrate from drying out.
If the monotub becomes too dry, the mycelium will show signs of stress. It may appear thin or shrivelled, and it will struggle to colonise the substrate fully. This will result in smaller, less dense mushrooms.
An overly wet monotub can cause several issues. The mycelium can become waterlogged and struggle to spread, leading to reduced mushroom growth. Excess moisture also raises the risk of contamination by bacteria, mould, and other unwanted organisms.
The key is consistency. You want to avoid both over-watering and under-watering your setup. Misting is often used to maintain moisture levels, but it should be done sparingly to avoid pooling water. Gro Magik monotubs are designed to maintain the correct moisture levels without the need for misting during the first flush.
For the first flush, very little misting is required. Usually, a single mist directly onto the casing layer is sufficient. After the first flush, heavier misting may be needed to rehydrate the cake. Misting every couple of days may be necessary if the substrate appears dry or there is a lack of condensation in the tub.
