Mould!

[Smallclub]

If it's white and can be easily bushed off, it doesn't sound like mold, which is often blue and stains the wrapper.

Mold IS white (it's called "white mold") and can be easily brushed off. Blue mold is rare and never occurs in a monitored humidor.
As for "plume": plume is made of oil crystals, it does NOT look like mould; no confusion possible unless you're not able to make the difference between crystal and spores; more, it never comes on young cigars.
I have seen 2 or maybe 3 occurences of plume in the last 10 years, always on vintage cigars that were quite dry.

[Puff Scotty]

I agree. I've done the same. If it's only light on the foot lop it off & have a look.

I must admit to also thinking about the price of the buggers

[daverave999]

Pics would help if you can!

It is impossible for a 6 MO cigar to have plume as it has not even undertaken the 2nd ferment.

I disagree. A sharp change in humidity can also cause 'blooming'. It's a function of the oils migrating to the wrapper. Whether that be through unstable humidity or age...

If you want to drop the humidity, just get a Boveda pack with a lower set level! They do 65% ones too...

[Puff Scotty]

Let's clear this up. The mould (let's call it mould for the sake of argument) I had looked like this (this was just a google image as I haven't taken a pic of the mould I had and now I've wiped it off )

http://education.vigilantinc.com/cigar/mold.html

I really do think it's mould.

Tipp - good suggestions. The cigars were indeed stored tight under the humidifier. Probably a bit much for the poor little guys

Let's talk prevention then. Assuming I've got rid of the mould, how to I stop this headache in future?

If it's like the pictures it's mould...
Mould can strike anywhere, good housekeeping is your best bet at whatever level you decide you like to smoke your stogies.

[bambini]

P.S. I have indeed only had the smokes for 6 months - good guess!

[Aussiewaz]

Had some Monty A's a while back, mold had reached or started at the foot.
I sinned... cropped of a centimetre , wiped them, left them for a month & smoked 'em... perfect smoke .

I agree. I've done the same. If it's only light on the foot lop it off & have a look.

[bambini]

Let's clear this up. The mould (let's call it mould for the sake of argument) I had looked like this (this was just a google image as I haven't taken a pic of the mould I had and now I've wiped it off )

http://education.vigilantinc.com/cigar/mold.html

I really do think it's mould.

Tipp - good suggestions. The cigars were indeed stored tight under the humidifier. Probably a bit much for the poor little guys

Let's talk prevention then. Assuming I've got rid of the mould, how to I stop this headache in future?

[Puff Scotty]

If it's reached the foot .... chuck them.

Had some Monty A's a while back, mold had reached or started at the foot.
I sinned... cropped of a centimetre , wiped them, left them for a month & smoked 'em... perfect smoke .

[Aussiewaz]

Fair enough mate. I think I must have been mislead about mould in the past.

As for plume on a 6 month old cigar; yes, I totally agree with you. Didn't realise it was that young.

Thanks for the info.

[Dencappo]

Fair enough mate. I think I must have been mislead about mould in the past.

As for plume on a 6 month old cigar; yes, I totally agree with you. Didn't realise it was that young.

Thanks for the info.

[Aussiewaz]

If it's white and can be easily bushed off, it doesn't sound like mold, which is often blue and stains the wrapper.

Not true. I've never seen blue or green mold but I have seen white mold on cigars less than 6 months old. It is impossible for a 6 MO cigar to have plume as it has not even undertaken the 2nd ferment.

[Dencappo]

If it's white and can be easily bushed off, it doesn't quite sound like mould to me, which as far as I'm aware is often a 'blue-ish' colour and stains the wrapper. Moreover, I've had plume on well-stored cigars younger than 10 years old, but I'd definitely trust the man looking at it over my guesses.

[tippexx]

Take them out of the humi. Give them a wipe with a cloth and Ronsonol (no other) leave them out for about 15mins for the fumes to dissipate.

Put them in a small (clean) tuppa container and put them in the fridge for two to three days.

If the mold is at the cap end then the cigars should be OK. If it's reached the foot .... chuck them.

Strangely, I've an Adorini synthetic hair analogue, and whilst it's slower it's along with my Angelo digital my most accurate hygro.

See where you've been storing the Punch, you may have them directly under the humidifier which may be slightly over-saturated, this has caused problems for me with some cigars in the past.

[Aussiewaz]

is there a way that I can prevent mould from reforming?

Yes. Keep them on their own, keep an eye on them for a month then if no signs of mold reappear they are fine.

Freezing is done to kill beetles, not mold.

Keep Isopropyl alcohol AWAY from your wrappers!

What you may have on the punch cigars is a localised bloom caused by more oils being present in the cap & dehydrating.
It's sometimes hard to differentiate between the two as it can be visually different from stick to stick.

Sounds like what a retailer would say Scotty and total crap. Bloom will exhibit on the sides first as there are more oils in the shank of a cigar than the cap.

[bambini]

Ok, one at a time!

@Den - No it's not plume. They are too young for plume and it definitely looks like mould to my eye

@Warren - I've heard talk of changing the RH, and I'd like to drop it, but don't know how.

@68Trishield - If I have to I'm trying to keep hold of these for a while longer though - are they gonna need smoking now, or is there a way that I can prevent mould from reforming?