Expert: James Yee - 1/18/2011

Question
I have a one year old cabinet humidor approx. 3X3X6 ft.  It is himidified by 2 Cigar Oasis humidifiers @ 68%.  On the bottom shelf what appears to be mold has formed on the edges of the ventilation slots cut into the bottom shelf.  That is the only place this stuff appears...on the edges of the wood.  I've removed in with a cloth dampened in alcohol but it comes back in a month or so.  It seems to be a product of the glue (maybe?) in the plywood.  Maybe its not even mold, I don't know.  So far my cigars are unaffected.  I'm concerned as I have 1,000 cigars and the unit set me back about $1000.  Any advice?

Answer
Hi Robert,

It's very possible that the substance is from the glue or sap in the grain of the wood.  Over time, moisture, dirt and dust will adhere to the substance and cause it to look like mold or mildew.  What you should do is examine the substance with a magnifying glass or microscope.  If the substance is thick and fuzzy in appearance or has long tubular bodies and mushroom cap-like heads, it's definitely mold.  Mold will also grow rapidly and spread out in uneven patches.  If the substance does not grow or spread, it's not mold.

Mold will also commonly appear on cigars or wood fixtures closest to the humidification device(s) so if the substance is indeed mold, relocate your Cigar Oasis units so that there is nothing directly above or around the fans that would obstruct the humidity flow.  Whenever there is an obstruction in humidity flow, excess moisture will build up and this will cause mold growth.  

Aside from clearing any obstructions, monitoring your humidor on a daily basis and treating the mold with a bit of alcohol whenever it appears is the only way to combat it.  Your humidity level is fine so the only thing that would cause mold to appear would be an obstruction that is localizing the humidity and causing it to build up.

I hope this helps!  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James