Expert: M J Robbins - 10/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello there,
I've read a lot of your responses to cigar mold and I was wondering if you could answer whether this sounds like mold to you. I use a 50 CT Cuban Crafters Humidor. My humidification element is a 1/4 lb. of heartfelt humidity beads (using distilled water from the supermarket) and the temp/humidty is measured by a digital hygrometer (that has been checked for calibration). It stays at a constant 68-69 degress and 66-68% humidity. This humidor has a tray (the kind with the oval holes for ventilation between the top and bottom levels), and my "show" cigars sit on top as its a see through top model. Every two weeks or so, I notice there is a white fuzzy looking substance that grows on the inside of the ventilation holes of the tray. As in the little tiny vertical piece of wood that is the thickness of the tray that makes up the inside of the holes. It is powdery to the touch, and wipes off with a finger easily. It condenses over where the humidification element is. Now I would think this is mold, but it doesn't present itself anywhere else in the humidor, on any other part of the wood, nor does it start building up on the cigars (though the longest I've had a cigar last in there is a month before I've smoked it :p). What is it, and what precautions should I take if it is mold?

ANSWER: Mold
Take the shelve out and wipe it down with rubbing alcohol use a tooth brush to get all the nooks and crannies.
Leave it out for a few days to dry.
Put it back in and see what happens.

More mold and repeat the process but replace the humidity beads because they could be the next source.

66% to 68% humidity where?
Where do you have the hygrometer - check humidity on the cigars by placing the device on top of the cigars, on the top shelve and the bottom.
Humidity has to be on the top as moisture falls.
Beads in a jar on the bottom will make for high humidity on the bottom close to the jar and low humidity on the top.

Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the super fast response Mike.

That's the humidity on the top shelf on top of the cigars. I just now moved the cigars out, and placed the hygrometer on the bottom to see what it is down there. I read somewhere that white fuzz that is small, uniform, and turns to dust with your figer could be mineral deposits? Going to do the wipe down and removal of the tray just in case though and try Boveda Packets instead. Does that sound like a good plan of action?

P.S. I have the beads split between top and bottom but that is going to change as I am getting the packets.  

Answer
I've never seen white stuff on the wood that wasn't mold and I've seen it 1,000 times as shown to me by customers over 30 years and always treated it successfully the same way. The white mold hopefully wipes right off, if it doesn't then it is more serious. Of course that does not mean that there cannot be the one time in 1,000 that it is some anomaly that I have not seen.
Recurring mold can mean a problem with the wood that you cannot get out. OR recurring mold can mean a problem with the cigars. I have seen some cigars, over 30 years, that come from particular distributors or manufacturers that have been consistently mold producing or bug ridden so I discontinue ordering from them.
For a few years even Fuente cedar wrapped cigars had mold because of contaminated cedar.

Some "geeks" do not have proper storage facilities and just ruin the cigars. Or they rush them through the process and do not treat or watch for bugs. I just had a problem with cigars that were too dry and I called to check with someone I trusted. "Oh my analog hygrometer must be off" they told me, analog in a small warehouse! I sent them a $150 digital Thermo-Hygro to maintain the humidity properly. They think because they are in Florida humidity is fairly high but Air conditioning can lower humidity and dry the cigars over a few month period.

Boveda
2 on the top and 2 on the bottom.
And they inhibit the growth of mold.

Good luck and good smoking
Mike