Smart grow box vs traditional mushroom grow kit
A boxed Spray & Grow kit is $34.99 and you mist it by hand. The automated Boomr Bin is $169.98 and the BoomRoom II is $479.00, and neither includes a culture or blocks. Neither lists a CO2 sensor. For a first grow, start with the kit.
The three options side by side
We compared North Spore's boxed Spray & Grow kit with two of its automated grow systems, because North Spore sells all three and publishes full pages for each. All figures are the seller's, checked on November 11, 2026.
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| What we compared | Spray & Grow kit | Automated Boomr Bin | BoomRoom II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $34.99 on the North Spore pages we checked | $169.98, shown as a sale price with no original price | $479.00, or $431.10 with the DIBS10 coupon the page displayed |
| What you get | A 4 lb block already colonized, in a box | A monotub with an automated fan and humidifier | A five-rack shelf with a zippered tent, humidifier and fan |
| Included | Block, box and mister | Monotub, FAE fan mini with power control, Myco-Mister Mini humidifier with hose, hose connector, Mycontroller, 1 and 2 inch filter sheets | Five-rack shelving, zippered tent, Myco-Mister II, Mycontroller, FAE fan, filters, Spore Floor II |
| Not included | Nothing else needed | Culture and substrate, which you choose at checkout (fruiting blocks is one option) | Fruiting blocks and substrate |
| Size | Sits on a counter with dappled light, per North Spore | 22 x 15 x 11 inches, holds up to 25 lb of substrate | 27 x 19 x 63 inches for rack and tent. Up to 4 fruiting blocks or 20 lb per shelf |
| Humidity and air | You spray by hand, 5 to 10 times a session | Humidity controller reads 0 to 99% RH, fan with power control | Mycontroller, humidifier and fan included |
| What it lacks | Nothing automated | No CO2 sensor | No CO2 sensor, temperature control or light control |
| Listing issues | None found | None found | Volume listed as 18 cu ft in one place and 17 in another. Growth claim listed as 9x in one place and 8x in another |
| Customer feedback | Not compared here | Reviewers report hose problems, a fan that runs too strong and hygrometer accuracy concerns | 161 reviews, 86% five-star. Complaints include over-misting, rust and filters |
What the price really buys
The Boomr Bin at $169.98 costs about 4.9 Spray & Grow kits at $34.99. It does not include a culture or substrate, so you still have to buy something to grow in it. North Spore says its roughly 5 lb fruiting blocks work best in a monotub or Martha tent and can out-yield Spray & Grow kits, which is the use case the bins are built for.
The BoomRoom II costs $479.00 at its regular price. It does not come with blocks or substrate either.
What automation does and does not do
North Spore boils kit care down to hydration, airflow and light. The bins automate the first two with a humidifier, a fan and a controller. Neither lists a CO2 sensor, and the BoomRoom II lists no temperature or light control. North Spore's booklet gives CO2 limits for each species, so if you want to track that number, a bin without a sensor will not do it for you. North Spore says stringy mushrooms are the sign of too little airflow.
The customer feedback shows the other side. Reviewers of the Boomr Bin report hose problems and a fan that runs too strong, and BoomRoom II reviewers mention over-misting and rust. Automation adds parts that can go wrong.
Our read
This section is our opinion. For a first grow, a boxed kit does the job for a fraction of the price, and it teaches you what hydration, airflow and light look like by hand. A bin makes more sense after you have grown a few kits and want to run larger blocks regularly. We have not used either bin, so we are not rating them. See best mushroom grow kits for beginners for the kit side, and how to grow mushrooms at home for the method.
Keep reading
- Mushroom grow kit troubleshooting: what to do if a kit stalls or dries out
- How to grow oyster mushrooms: care for a boxed oyster kit
- Mushroom variety database: conditions and difficulty for 13 varieties
Common questions
Is a smart grow box worth it for a beginner?
For a first grow, a boxed kit costs $34.99 on the North Spore pages we checked, while the automated Boomr Bin is $169.98 and does not include a culture or substrate. We would start with the kit, and consider a bin once you want to run larger blocks.
Do automated mushroom grow boxes have a CO2 sensor?
The two North Spore systems we checked list none. North Spore's booklet gives CO2 limits for each species, so a bin without a sensor will not measure that for you.
What else do I need to buy with a Boomr Bin?
The bin comes without a culture or substrate. You choose those at checkout, and fruiting blocks are one option.
How much does a BoomRoom II cost?
North Spore lists it at $479.00, or $431.10 with the DIBS10 coupon the page displayed when we checked. Blocks and substrate are not included.
Sources
- Organic Blue Oyster Spray & Grow product page, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Automated 'Boomr Bin' Monotub Mushroom Grow Kit, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- 'BoomRoom II' Automated Martha Tent Mushroom Grow System, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Fruiting Block Kits FAQ, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Fruiting Block Kit Instruction Booklet (PDF), North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Using a Spray & Grow Kit, North Spore. Checked November 11, 2026.
How this page is checked
Cedrick Reese wrote this comparison from North Spore's own product and instruction pages for the Spray & Grow kit, the Boomr Bin and the BoomRoom II, and read each page on the date shown. Prices and coupon codes change often, and the BoomRoom II page contradicts itself on volume and growth claims, so the table says so. We have not used either bin, and the customer feedback row reports what reviewers on the seller's pages say, not our results.