Need some advice

[AaronFromPA]

OK my digi Hygros came today and I have had my 65% beads in the humidor now for a few days with about 6 or so cigars (which is mostly my entire stash...sad I know) . Also I sat a small dish of distilled water in with the beads to help season it as the beads started going solid again.

Now after being in the humidor today my hygrometer read 59%, it has a +/-5 tolerence btw. My question is am I risking losing my precious few cigars by leaving them in this lower humidity hoping the humidor stabalizes or not?

I have my hygro salt testing now to determine any variation but any insight would be welcome...

thanks again!

 

[BkCloud114]

From what I've learned here is that the winter months bring drier air. I would wait to see what the salt test says and if ya need to just add a small sponge with distilled water to help bring humidity up. If your Hygro is -/+ 5% you should be fine. I believe 60-65% in the winter is not that bad.

Also did ya season the Humidor before ya added the beads?

The number 1 thing I learned here.... Stop opening it up to check.

 

[mrjinglesusa]

Give it a few more days to get up to 65% +/- humidity. A couple of days at 59% isn't going to ruin your cigars. Has your humidor been seasoned? If not, it may be absorbing moisture and keeping the humidity a bit low until it gets saturated.

 

[AaronFromPA]

The humidor has been seasoned yes. I suppose it is very possible it is the winter months. I already have a cup of distilled water in the humidor to help out so I figure that should be as good as a sponge. Do sponges work better? Or a creado perhaps?

 

[BkCloud114]

Personally I have had better luck with a sponge, but I don't think there is a difference. I also feel better putting a sponge in there so as not to spill the water.

 

[AaronFromPA]

I also feel better putting a sponge in there so as not to spill the water.

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I can see your point there BC I carry my humidor around like it holds the holy grail in hopes that I will not spill the water. I have decided to leave the cigars where they are and not open it for a couple of days...which of course means I dont get to smoke for two days but if it brings up the humidity I htiink it will be worthwhile.

 

[puffnstuff]

I have my hygro salt testing now to determine any variation

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what's the verdict on your hygrometer's accuracy?

your situation might not be too dire.
from what I understand, 65% beads are doing their job if the humidity is within the 63-67% range, depending on factors such as outside humidity etc.. if the salt test tells you that your hygrometer is reading a few degrees low, then you know the beads aren't the problem.

the dryness of winter air will contribute to a lower RH, but depending on the size of your humidor, only having 6 sticks in there (aka- a lot of empty space) might make it difficult for the RH to stay stable at 65%.

 

[AaronFromPA]

Hygro was 3 degrees low so I think I am OK. I moved the humidor into a warmer room in my home in hopes that that will help. I am hoping the combo of the warmth plus me leaving the box shut awhile will cure whatever the issue is.

 

[BkCloud114]

IMHO.... you should be fine, take some sticks out you want to smoke and leave it closed a couple of days to see what happens.... Not too long, too much Humidity will mold them, I learned the hard way my first time and had to throw away some sticks, thank goodness they were nothing too good