Mould!

[Puff Scotty]

Put the humidor directly under a light and leave it on for 24-48 hours, light kills mold.

Bambini, sorry about the earlier drifting, you will always get a conflict on this subject.
But not to scare you unduly IMHO I'm not sure about the above advice, I'm not saying it's wrong but does anybody have any idea about what levels of UV we're talking about?
You have time to sort this out if you've isolated the visibly infected cigars, so don't panic, all will come good. If you PM your address I'll post you some cigars to lessen the anxiety.
Regards,
Puff

[Smallclub]

Replace analogue hygrometer with (reliable) digital model, replace humidifier with 65% heartfelt beads or similar (IMHO).

Definitely the way to go. If you prefer to smoke your cigars at 70%, get a small "finishing" desktop humidor or a jar? the "finishing in a jar" was very fashionable some years ago?

[El Catador]

Now, bambini, everything is going to be fine, tipp has given you some excellent advice on how to fix the mould, and here's how you can stop it from ever happening again...

Replace analogue hygrometer with (reliable) digital model, replace humidifier with 65% heartfelt beads or similar (IMHO).

Don't panic!
All will be well.



Most of us have encountered it at sometime or other - it's not as scary as you think.

If in doubt . . just smoke 'em all!!!

[Watkins]

If you really must here's a guide to stop any mold.
First empty the humidor into tupperware for temporary storage.
Put the humidor directly under a light and leave it on for 24-48 hours, light kills mold.
Check all cigars before placing back into the humidor.
Get a digital hygrometer and place in a different location to analogue to see any difference in different areas.
if needs must place a veneer of spanish cedar directly below the humidifier.

That's the most I'd ever do, But honestly I wouldn't be too worried. Worst case is the same would happen to the ones below again and will need to be wiped off.

That's just my personal opinion btw and someone may have more knowledge than me when it comes to this.

[bambini]

Guys, I'm finding the bloom debate riveting, really I am, but I can't help but feel that the thread I'm using to (barely) contain the anxiety I'm feeling about potentially losing my entire cigar collection to mould has been jacked somewhat

Now, I'm not possessive of my threads, and I actually quite like the way they drift, but I essentially started this thread to have a mild panic and for my fellow BOTLs to reassure me and take me gently through the steps to a mould-free life, and as yet I'm not feeling that my needs have been met adequately.

Please, oh please, could someone just read through the questions I asked a few posts ago and then post a lovely thread that says "now bambini, everything is going to be fine, tipp has given you some excellent advice on how to fix the mould, and here's how you can stop it from ever happening again...[INSERT HELPFUL ADVICE HERE]."

And yes, I'm completely conscious of how emotionally needy I'm sounding at the moment

[daverave999]

Hi I agree again, although I've been knocked already on this thread...

No worries.
I'm not trying to have an argument, just parrotting what I read elsewhere. Which may make me naive.
That said, there's loads of different factors that affect cigar storage. More than we are aware of in all likelihood!

YMMV

[Puff Scotty]

I just wonder if the box date is any good at all as a determiner of when or not a cigar might accumulate plume. After all, the tobacco itself might be four to six years old before being rolled.

I have a box of Boli Bonitas 07 which a showing crystalisation and a cab of HdM du Marie 05s that are showing signs of plumeing along nicely.

Humidity within humidors and more likely tuppadors can I think be caused to fluctuate. Rapid changes in temperature or in barometric pressure being the primary culprits.

One of the reasons I always say "may". Who knows that the cigars in your box didn't come from the back of the warehouse & had been there for yonks!

[tippexx]

Hi I agree again, although I've been knocked already on this thread, mine are personal observations & I'm definately not a retailer.
Years ago & I mean years, I heard this discussion & a lot of what was said then still holds true.
I had a box of Juan Lopez which started to bloom after 3 years (at the cap end) & had significant plume 18 months later. On first discussing this I was told it was mould caused by the gum used in the capping process - this was not true in this instance.
I was also told that plume could be affected by fluctuation in humidity which I'm sure is correct. My last comment being the oils could not crystalise until reaching the outer surface.
As I also said " I had heard sories of " & later agreed they were "stories" of freezer use for mould. As for isopropyl alcohol I use it in 2% solution & have had no problems with it whatsoever on my sticks or in my humi.
I have seen all colours of mould on cigars mostly I maintain from fluctuating temperature in humi's not just the humidity, in fact one leading Australian cigar retailer tells you the "correct" level is 70-75...
My post was supposed to be helpful but obviously I'm lacking in the experience of some of the members of the Forum but having only been smoking for 35 years I'll bow to ther superior knowledge.
My apologies to all,
Puff.

I just wonder if the box date is any good at all as a determiner of when or not a cigar might accumulate plume. After all, the tobacco itself might be four to six years old before being rolled.

I have a box of Boli Bonitas 07 which a showing crystalisation and a cab of HdM du Marie 05s that are showing signs of plumeing along nicely.

Humidity within humidors and more likely tuppadors can I think be caused to fluctuate. Rapid changes in temperature or in barometric pressure being the primary culprits.

[Puff Scotty]

Yeah but they can't dry out if they aren't there! I'll see if I can find the reference for the humidity change bloom.

Hi I agree again, although I've been knocked already on this thread, mine are personal observations & I'm definately not a retailer.
Years ago & I mean years, I heard this discussion & a lot of what was said then still holds true.
I had a box of Juan Lopez which started to bloom after 3 years (at the cap end) & had significant plume 18 months later. On first discussing this I was told it was mould caused by the gum used in the capping process - this was not true in this instance.
I was also told that plume could be affected by fluctuation in humidity which I'm sure is correct. My last comment being the oils could not crystalise until reaching the outer surface.
As I also said " I had heard sories of " & later agreed they were "stories" of freezer use for mould. As for isopropyl alcohol I use it in 2% solution & have had no problems with it whatsoever on my sticks or in my humi.
I have seen all colours of mould on cigars mostly I maintain from fluctuating temperature in humi's not just the humidity, in fact one leading Australian cigar retailer tells you the "correct" level is 70-75...
My post was supposed to be helpful but obviously I'm lacking in the experience of some of the members of the Forum but having only been smoking for 35 years I'll bow to ther superior knowledge.
My apologies to all,
Puff.

[bambini]

I'm still wondering why I got mould in the first place. If I assume that my hygro is calibrated OK, then my RH is 70%. Is it possible to get mould at 70%? I thought you needed an RH of 80 or so.

I know that tipp mentioned that it might just be the location of the cigars relative to the humidifier (i.e. right underneath), causing saturation. If I move my sticks around a bit, am I just going to get mould on any cigars that end up under the humidifier?

[daverave999]

According to MRN (posted in a forum) it occurs after a drastic change of ambiant temperature and/or humidity…

We've read it in the same place then if it was 'Wayne'.

Thanks!

[Smallclub]

I'll see if I can find the reference for the humidity change bloom.

According to MRN (posted in a forum) it occurs after a drastic change of ambiant temperature and/or humidity?

[daverave999]

Yeah but they can't dry out if they aren't there! I'll see if I can find the reference for the humidity change bloom.

[Puff Scotty]

It's a function of the oils migrating to the wrapper

.

Absolutely agree with the rest but thought it was the oils drying out after migration to the wrapper not an inherent function..

[Aussiewaz]

Dave, if you have cigars that are less than even 5 years old with definite plume I'll buy them right now! The oils entering the wrapper will give it a nice sheen, not plume, or bloom, whichever term you prefer.