Traditionally, personal grows were done in large clear totes such as the "Sterilite" brand. There are the big 55L totes, sweaterboxes, and the shoebox size commonly known as the "dub tub" tek (pictured below). Bulk growers for farmers markets, however, grow using plastic filter patch bags of various lengths, widths, and micron filters allowing for more or less air/gas exchange. In colorado, unmodified totes seem to work just fine as they help to keep humidity high, however fresh air exchange is limited which can cause some issues with the mushrooms suffocating in their own CO2.
For new growers, tubs are the optimal choice. This is because they require less dialing in to the external environment, and allow for easy harvesting. However as you become more experienced you'll find that tubs aren't as efficient when it comes to space usage. Be sure to go with the containers between 16 qt and 32 qt sizes as this allows you to DIVERSIFY your genetic portfolio for getting started. Also if one of the tubs contaminates, you can easily remove it and hopefully your other grows will succeed to final fruit.
Tubs
Reusable
Lots of easy techniques and guides online "dub tub/shoebox tek" "Damion's 50/50 tek" "BOD's Unmodified Tote Tek"
Side pinning can be annoying (Tip, use a trashbag liner)
Less space efficient
Bags
Worse for the environment
Recommended to purchase an impulse sealer (5mm width heating element preferred)
May need to be in a more controlled/clean environment
Side pinning can be annoying if you're looking to second and third flush a bag. (Tip - remove block and harvest, then place the substrate block in new bag and reseal, mist block if it seems dry)
If you've already got your substrate and spawn game on point then that's when I would consider going with bags. You can get the larger filters to allow for more air exchange, but have a higher risk of contamination during colonization. An impulse sealer is recommended for sealing the top of the bags, but I've seen success using rubber bands, zip ties, and tape too. Once the bag has finished colonizing and starts to pin, depending on your relative humidity, cutting slits in the bag and adding some micropore tape can help add air exchange. That's really a tough spot for me to recommend because it's so variable on your climate, cleanliness of grow area, and how strong your genetics are.
It's funny actually that once you've grown long enough, you can pretty much make anything work and you'll see some of the fun and creative ways people go about growing within mushroom cultivation groups on Facebook, Reddit, and the Shroomery.
Have fun with it and let me know what methods and items you come up with to grow in!
Questions? Shoot me an email over at [email protected] or follow me on Instagram: @mushlovemycology
Next Beginner Class: June 24th, 2024 @ Monster Mushrooms
P. Cubensis: "Creeper"
P. Cubensis: "Garlic Knot"