Mold???

[skant]

A friend suggested i add some wet Q-tips to my stash jar (mason jar with 6 plastic containers with different buds). After two days i checked and herb had become damp and lost its original smell, smelled weird.

I dried it out, it looks OK, but how can I be sure mold hasn't formed?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

Look at it with a magnifying glass or send it to a lab to be tested for mold? You're only supposed to rehydrate for like, 2 or 3 hours max. In the future get some Bodeva Humidipaks to keep your materials at preferable moisture levels.

 

[max]

Here's another good product for adding moisture. I would avoid putting anything wet, or even the traditional orange peel, directly into your herb.

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/the-cvault-climate-controlled-storage.4585/

 

[skant]

Look at it with a magnifying glass or send it to a lab to be tested for mold? You're only supposed to rehydrate for like, 2 or 3 hours max. In the future get some Bodeva Humidipaks to keep your materials at preferable moisture levels.

Sending to lab is a bit overkill, don't you think?
What does mold look like on buds? Hard to differentiate between mold and bud crystals.

Here's another good product for adding moisture. I would avoid putting anything wet, or even the traditional orange peel, directly into your herb.

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/the-cvault-climate-controlled-storage.4585/

Wasn't direct, herb was in plastic containers which were in Mason jar. I added Q tips to Mason jar. Obviously a bad idea...

 

[max]

Well baggies aren't air tight but I admit I'm surprised that much moisture got in. Probably a bad seal, small tear in the bag, etc. Wintertime dries out herb quickly, but if you're storing any quantity, I'd go for some kind of vacuum sealed container, rather than adding back moisture. If you don't see any whiteness/mold with a magnifying glass, it's probably OK. It takes a while for mold to form. I hope it's OK. Nothing worse than having to dump herb. It's like taking a match to money.

 

[pigfoot]

Smell is always my first indicator. If it doesn't smell moldy, should be ok.

 

[skant]

Well baggies aren't air tight but I admit I'm surprised that much moisture got in. Probably a bad seal, small tear in the bag, etc. Wintertime dries out herb quickly, but if you're storing any quantity, I'd go for some kind of vacuum sealed container, rather than adding back moisture. If you don't see any whiteness/mold with a magnifying glass, it's probably OK. It takes a while for mold to form. I hope it's OK. Nothing worse than having to dump herb. It's like taking a match to money.

Herb wasn't in baggies, but small rectangular plastic containers that snap shut (herb is sold in this)

Smell is always my first indicator. If it doesn't smell moldy, should be ok.

What does mold smell like?

At first weed smelled weird when damp, but now that it's
dry it smells OK, albeit not as strong as before.

 

[flotntoke]

Get a magnifier. I've been using an older model of one of these from radio shack for years. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2179604 But, many other similar ones out there for even cheaper.

Even a cheap jeweler's loop works pretty well. Hard to beat this one for $4 from Amazon. Small, portable and has a light. http://www.amazon.com/25mm-Glass-Je...qid=1395726725&sr=8-1&keywords=jewelers+loupe

You'll know the trichs when you see them. They're beautiful! Mold usually looks like little webs or white hairs that are out of sync with the flow of everything else you'll be seeing.

 

[skant]

I found an old loupe from the film days. Buds look OK, don't see anything like white hairs, thought the buds themselves looks somewhat green and brown hairy when magnified.

I'll see if I can find some pics of moldy buds online, and compare with what Im seeing...thanks!

 

[spoutti]

Maybe rub a bit in your fingers to accentuate the smell and see if it smells right now?

 

[skant]

Not too different after rubbing bud. Getting damp and drying out, herbs seems to have lost some of their original distinctive smells. Dont think potency has been lost, and dont see any mold, so I think im OK.

No more Q tips!

 

[spoutti]

I experimented for the 1st time last year with conserving my herbs long time. Vacuumed mason jars for long term and a few jyarz for ready to vape herbs is my best conclusion.

Good news you didnt lose your stash!