Yes, North Spore fruiting blocks work in a Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box. Both companies use standard hardwood substrate in breathable bags. To run a North Spore block in a Lykyn chamber: place the block in the chamber, cut the bag according to species (top for lion's mane, X-cut for oysters), select the matching species preset in the Lykyn app, fill the water reservoir, and walk away. First harvest in 10 to 14 days for most species.
North Spore is the largest direct-to-consumer mushroom block company in the US - 28.7% market share, 100,000+ monthly organic visitors (Semrush, VERIFIED). They make excellent fruiting blocks. They do not make a chamber. We make an excellent chamber. We do not try to compete with their substrate work.
Lykyn is a small California company that designs smart mushroom grow boxes. The Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box is built to accept any commercial fruiting block up to 6 lb. Including North Spore, FreshCap, Mossy Creek, our own Lykyn blocks, and anything else with standard hardwood substrate in a breathable bag. This guide covers how to run a North Spore block in your Lykyn chamber, step by step.
Why North Spore Blocks Work in a Lykyn Chamber
Mushroom fruiting blocks are largely interchangeable across reputable producers. The substrate is the same (supplemented hardwood pellets, sometimes soy hull or millet additions). The bag is the same (breathable polypropylene with a filter patch). The mycelium does the same thing once the right humidity, airflow, and light are provided.
What varies between producers is freshness, packaging quality, and species selection. Not chamber compatibility. A North Spore block, a FreshCap block, and a Lykyn block all fruit the same way under the same chamber conditions.
What to Buy from North Spore
North Spore makes blocks in roughly the same lineup as our own. The most common options:
- Pearl Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) - their most popular oyster, 5 lb blocks at ~$25 to $30
- Blue Oyster (Pleurotus columbinus) - photogenic, similar pricing
- Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus) - their lion's mane is excellent quality, 5 lb at ~$30
- Shiitake - thicker substrate, 21 to 28 day cycle, ~$30
- King Trumpet (Pleurotus eryngii) - meaty stems, ~$35
- Pioppino, Chestnut, Maitake - specialty options at $30 to $50
Our own Lykyn fruiting block lineup covers the same species at $30 each. We ship from California with no second carrier handoff. Pick whichever brand fits your habit. The chamber does not care which logo is on the bag.
Step-by-Step: Running a North Spore Block in a Lykyn Chamber
Same process as a Lykyn block, with one note about block size.
Day 0: Setup
- Inspect the block. Open the shipping box. The block should be fully colonized (white throughout), in a sealed bag, with no green mold, no black spots, and no off smells. North Spore packs well; if anything looks wrong, photograph it and email them. They replace bad blocks.
- Check the size. North Spore standard blocks are 5 lb. The Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box accepts up to 6 lb, so a 5 lb block fits with room to spare. If you bought a North Spore "boomer block" (heavier, larger commercial size), confirm it fits before opening.
- Place the block in the chamber. Bag-on, sitting upright on the chamber floor. The Lykyn chamber has a slight perforated grate that lets condensation runoff drain.
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Cut the bag according to species.
- Lion's mane: Cut a 2 inch X across the top of the bag. Lion's mane fruits from the top surface only.
- Oyster (any color): Cut a 2 inch X-slit on each side of the bag. Oysters fruit from the sides, not the top.
- Shiitake: Remove the bag entirely. Shiitake blocks are denser and fruit from all surfaces.
- King Trumpet, Chestnut, Pioppino: Top X-cut, 1 to 2 inches.
- Select the matching species preset in the Lykyn app or device controls. Lykyn presets include all major North Spore species. The chamber writes the preset to local memory and runs the cycle from there.
- Fill the water reservoir. 2.8 L tank lasts 4 to 5 days at typical species presets. Fill with tap water. Distilled or filtered is fine but unnecessary.
- Walk away. Refill water around day 4. Otherwise the chamber runs autonomously.
Days 1 to 14: The Cycle
Same as any other block. Pins appear in 3 to 14 days depending on species. Cluster matures and reaches harvest in 10 to 28 days. See our timeline by species for exact day-by-day expectations.
Day of Harvest
Twist the cluster off at the base. Do not cut with a knife. Cook within an hour for peak texture.
Honest Differences Between Brands
Three real differences exist between North Spore blocks and Lykyn blocks. They do not affect chamber compatibility, but they affect timing and convenience.
- Shipping origin and freshness. Lykyn ships from California to most US addresses in 4 days. North Spore ships from Maine. Cross-country shipping in heat or cold can stress a block. Plan accordingly if you order in summer or winter.
- Block age at delivery. Both brands ship blocks shortly after full colonization. North Spore inventory turns slightly faster due to volume. Lykyn blocks are made-to-order in smaller batches.
- Pricing and shipping cost. North Spore charges $20 to $35 for the block plus shipping. Lykyn charges $30 with free US shipping over $50, which usually means free shipping if you bundle 2 blocks.
For the chamber math, see our grow kit cost breakdown.
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A few honest cautions:
- Do not refrigerate a block before fruiting unless you cannot start the cycle within 7 days. Cold storage stalls mycelium and can sometimes wake up contamination.
- Do not run two species simultaneously in a single chamber. The presets are species-specific for a reason. Run one block per cycle.
- Do not run a block that arrived green or smelly. Green = trichoderma contamination. Smelly = bacterial bloom. Email the supplier (North Spore or Lykyn) and they replace it.
- Do not cut slits in a lion's mane bag. Lion's mane fruits from the top surface. Side slits will weep moisture and stress the block.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do North Spore blocks work in a Lykyn grow box?
Yes. North Spore fruiting blocks work in a Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box. Both companies use standard hardwood substrate in breathable bags. The Lykyn chamber accepts any commercial block up to 6 lb. North Spore standard blocks are 5 lb and fit with room to spare.
What size North Spore block fits in a Lykyn chamber?
A 5 lb North Spore block (their standard size) fits in a Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box with about an inch of headroom. The chamber accepts up to 6 lb. North Spore's larger "boomer block" sizes for commercial growers may not fit; check dimensions before ordering.
Do I need a Lykyn-brand block to use a Lykyn chamber?
No. The Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box accepts fruiting blocks from any reputable supplier. North Spore, FreshCap, Mossy Creek, Mountain Mushroom Farm, or your own DIY substrate. Species presets in the Lykyn app match standard species names regardless of supplier.
How do I select the right preset for a North Spore block?
Match the preset to the species printed on the North Spore label. Pearl Oyster goes on Pearl Oyster preset. Lion's Mane on Lion's Mane preset. The Lykyn app preset list covers all major North Spore species: pearl, blue, pink, gold oyster, lion's mane, shiitake, king trumpet, pioppino, chestnut, maitake.
How long does a North Spore block take to fruit in a smart chamber?
A North Spore block takes 10 to 14 days to fruit for most species in a Lykyn smart chamber. Pink oyster fruits fastest at 8 to 12 days. Lion's mane and pearl oyster take 10 to 14 days. Shiitake takes 21 to 28 days. The smart chamber typically hits the lower end of these ranges due to humidity precision.
Can I run a North Spore block and a Lykyn block in the same chamber?
You can run one block at a time, regardless of brand. Two blocks of different species in the same chamber will not run optimally because the presets differ. If you want to grow two species side-by-side, run them in sequence (one cycle, then the next) or use two chambers.
Where is North Spore shipping from?
North Spore ships from Westbrook, Maine. Lykyn ships from California. Both ship US-wide. Cross-country shipping during summer heat or winter cold can stress blocks. If a block arrives warm or frozen, photograph it and contact the supplier for a replacement.
Bottom Line
A Lykyn Smart Mushroom Grow Box pairs cleanly with North Spore fruiting blocks. Pick whichever brand fits your shipping window, your species preference, and your habit. The chamber runs the same way regardless. We will tell you when North Spore is the better block (specialty species, faster east coast shipping). They will not tell you when our chamber is the better appliance.
Browse the Lykyn fruiting blocks collection for our own block lineup, or order any North Spore block to use in your Lykyn chamber. For the broader fruiting-block-brand comparison, see our guide to the best fruiting blocks to use with Lykyn.
We answer our own email. If a Lykyn block does not fruit, we replace it. If a North Spore block does not fruit, contact North Spore and they will too. That is the deal.
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