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Last post 21 years ago by Longfiller. 25 replies replies.
Help With Mold
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ssmokin Offline
#1 Posted: Sat, Mar 22 2003, 8:16 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
HELP! Opened one of my humidors today and most of the cigars had mold on them! OUCH! How do I fix them? Thanks, Dan
Arrow_34 Offline
#2 Posted: Sat, Mar 22 2003, 9:31 PM EST
Joined: 12-19-2002
Posts: 186
Well I have read a few threads on this ( i would try to search for them), but if the mold has not penatrated too far then you should be ok. Brush them off and you should be able to salvage them.... I think. But if they have, then you might have to write them off. Again, I don't remember all that was said.
Arrow_34 Offline
#3 Posted: Sat, Mar 22 2003, 9:52 PM EST
Joined: 12-19-2002
Posts: 186
Well I looked around and it looks like your sticks might be toast. Mold is a real cigar killer. But keep searching maybe I am wrong.
xibbumbero Offline
#4 Posted: Sat, Mar 22 2003, 10:00 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
What color is the mold? X
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#5 Posted: Sat, Mar 22 2003, 10:52 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
possibly your humidor is at 90%. i would check it with a calibrated hygrometer.

you could also call madam curie.
smithbw Offline
#6 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 3:32 AM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
I agree with X, Please describe the mold.

Regards,


B
jd1 Offline
#7 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 7:31 AM EST
Joined: 02-14-2001
Posts: 3,118
Are you using a PG/water mix? or just water?
tandem401 Offline
#8 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 9:09 AM EST
Joined: 03-01-2002
Posts: 112
Ssmokin,

Your humidor is, probably, way too humid or it's too humid in some places. If you caught it right away just brush the mold off and let them dry a bit.

Also, there's a condition called "blume" that is a natural secretion of oils from a newly rolled cigar. This is not a problem at all. Are you sure it's mold not blume? I can't give guidance on telling the difference but there should be some information on these boards or at Cigar.aficianado.com.
ssmokin Offline
#9 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 1:43 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
OK - I have been reading everything I can find and did an inspection this AM. It is actually white and wipes right off.

Now sounds more like bloom. I made the mistake of loading the humidor with a box of opened maduros (bloom more easily?). Then adding other cigars.

I now suspect that the maduros bloomed and it helped cause the others to bloom?
Smoked one and it seemed OK.
Am I on the right track? Thanks!!

xibbumbero Offline
#10 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 1:57 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Yes you be. Sounds like your gars be just fine. X
ssmokin Offline
#11 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 2:11 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
Should I just take the cigars out and wipe them and then refill the humidor?
Robby Offline
#12 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 2:29 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
ssmokin, what is the humidity reading in your humidor? Have you salt tested your hygrometer?
ssmokin Offline
#13 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 2:41 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
The humidity reads 70%. I am doing the salt test now, but it was calibrated before I started using it about 8 months ago. So it was probably due for a check. COuld excess moisture cause the problem? I still have the top open an inch or so till I figure this out!
xibbumbero Offline
#14 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 3:04 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Leave the bloom on and brush off before smoking. X
Slimboli Offline
#15 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 3:12 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
I smoke mine with the bloom/plume on!!!

I like the taste much better that way ...

YUM!!!
jgjam Offline
#16 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 3:13 PM EST
Joined: 05-16-2002
Posts: 909
Your in luck... I may be able to help you. I am in charge of a secret government program to evaluate and investigate causes and cures for cigar mold. (It's amazing how you can get government grants for almost anything!) My staff and I can perform a few simple tests on your cigars to determine if you are suffering from bloom or mold. All that is required is for you to package up the affected cigars and send them to my laboratory. If it is indeed mold they will be returned to you post haste. Unfortunately if it appears to bloom the test will render the cigars unusable in the future.

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

John
Slimboli Offline
#17 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 3:20 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
BTW --- bloom/plume is a GOOD thing, and it means don't change a thing.

It is the crystalization of the natural oils and sugars in the wrapper that form when storage conditions are optimum.

Remember: Bloom (aka Plume): A naturally occurring phenomenon in the cigar aging process caused by the oils that exude from the tobacco. It appears as a fine white powder and can be brushed off.

Not to be confused with mold, which is bluish, stains the wrapper and can permanently taint the flavor.

Robby Offline
#18 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 3:27 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
What kind of sea-gars are they? Are they all "affected?" or only some?
ssmokin Offline
#19 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 5:30 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
Robby: It seems to be spreading to most of them.
ssmokin Offline
#20 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 5:31 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Thanks John - made my day!

Package will ship tomorrow AM. Please let me know on condition ASAP!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Robby Offline
#21 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 5:34 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Ahhhh, I see, you were pullin my leg!! WELL THE JOKE'S ON YOU!!! that wasn't my leg...
ssmokin Offline
#22 Posted: Sun, Mar 23 2003, 6:10 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
Hey Robby - I wasn't pulling anyones's leg! I just got a kick out of John's awesome offer!
Robby Offline
#23 Posted: Mon, Mar 24 2003, 5:24 AM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Doh! Ok, it's tough to say if it's mold or not with out a proper inspection. What type of cigars, how many? and how long have they been sleeping at 70%? Have you smoked them? How do they taste? also per the previous post, if it's plume, you can rub it off with your finger and it's white. If it's mold, probably not, looks different, smells funny?
ssmokin Offline
#24 Posted: Mon, Mar 24 2003, 1:07 PM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 22
Robby: It's white and does come right off. CIgars seem to taste fine! Thanks
jd1 Offline
#25 Posted: Mon, Mar 24 2003, 1:15 PM EST
Joined: 02-14-2001
Posts: 3,118
post a pic
Longfiller Offline
#26 Posted: Tue, Mar 25 2003, 8:09 PM EST
Joined: 03-24-2003
Posts: 1
Sounds like mold to me. Inspect them with a high power magnifyer (at least 10x) or a microscope. There is white mold! Mold is fiberous while bloom is crystaline. Mold usually starts out as spots and is more three dimensional. If it is mold I would try setting the cigars out on a dry day in direct sunlight for about 4 hours after brushing them off. Mold doesn't like sunlight. Be sure to turn them half way through so both sides are exposed. Lower your humidity and place on your priority smoke list. If you have a lot I would store the majority in a nonhumidifyed box and move them to the humidor as needed taking into consideration the time delay in the humidor.
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