green/blue and yellow mold

[Smokin Harley]

I'm pretty sure I lost a few good soldiers . I went in the humi to rotate my sticks when I noticed the bottom layer of the top tray of home rolled ones had a bloom of powdery blue/green mold on them. On further inspection, the bottom of the slats of the tray itself had a slight crust of dry yellow mold .This part was directly over a plastic tray in which I had a distilled water soaked paper towel to raise humidity since the house is so dry this time of year. I took the tray of soaked paper towels out immediately . I quickly inspected the rest of my stash and removed the ones obviously affected . What can I do to prevent any more mold growth. I'm glad I looked when I did . I'd have been fightin mad if I lost the whole humi. So far all I have used in the humi is distilled water , haven't used a drop of PG .

 

[Raodwarior]

Use Boveda packs right now till it stabilizes then put a quality humidifier in there with a PG and distilled water mix.

 

[Smokin Harley]

ill have to go pick up a bottle of PG

 

[Knucklehead]

I'd be tempted to try and kill any mold spores remaining in the humidor. I would think a wipe down with a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide would suffice to sanitize the interior without leaving a smell.

Like Raodwarior says the Boveda packs will hold a steady humidity. No spiking up or down.

What does the PG do? Does it prevent mold?

 

[Raodwarior]

PG will help also as a two way regulator at appx 70% RH. My mix is 40% PG and 60% distilled water.

 

[Smokin Harley]

Ill definitely give the hydrogen peroxide wipe down to kill the spores that Im sure are embedded in the wood. I went to my local cigar shop and bought a small bottle of Xikar PG premixed to be 70% RH . I filled the humidifying bar with it , the one that WAS in it I am drying out since it was only distilled water . I'll fill that with PG too . Hoping I dont lose any more sticks . Is there anything I can do with the ones that look like they have just surface mold , re-wrap them maybe? Or are they junk?

 

[Jitterbugdude]

Yes, PG helps to prevent mold. It is the main reason that it is in almost all commercial pipe tobacco.

 

[DIY Pete]

Ill definitely give the hydrogen peroxide wipe down to kill the spores that Im sure are embedded in the wood. I went to my local cigar shop and bought a small bottle of Xikar PG premixed to be 70% RH . I filled the humidifying bar with it , the one that WAS in it I am drying out since it was only distilled water . I'll fill that with PG too . Hoping I dont lose any more sticks . Is there anything I can do with the ones that look like they have just surface mold , re-wrap them maybe? Or are they junk?

When it comes to mold I don't take any chances. If it is just a few small spots of white mold I will wipe it off the stick with a soft cloth. Any stick with blue or green mold, in the trash it goes.

Pete

 

[Brown Thumb]

I agree with Pete. I don't mess with any mold. In the trash it goes.
Sorry to hear about your soldiers. Mold can be a real PITA.

 

[Chicken]

What is " pg"????

 

[Raodwarior]

Propylene Glycol

 

[ArizonaDave]

Propylene Glycol

I agree, Propylene Glycol does help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_glycol

 

[HIM]

While your at it drop it down to 60-65 your cigars will smoke and taste a lot better.

 

[LewZephyr]

While your at it drop it down to 60-65 your cigars will smoke and taste a lot better.

Its all relative to the individual, but I have to agree with HIM. For me my smoking pleasure opened up so much more when I reduced from 70 RH to 60-65 RH.

 

[Smokin Harley]

I agree with the reduction in RH for better smoking...But the fact remains our house is very dry ,especially in the winter and the RH of the house hovers at 47% so even though the PG i bought is 70% the humi still sits steady at 58% right now, I check the hygrometer every morning(which reads 5% low anyway,so reading 58% +5% correction ,its really 63%+/- ). It was my own fault . When I got the humi for Christmas I never got any PG for the humidity foam, only distilled water so I didnt have the anti-fungal properties . Its all good now, the moldy sticks were removed .I'm checking the wood for any more mold or mildew .I think I got it under control .