If it is only on older leaves on the sunny or windward sides of the plant it is wind and cold damage. This is indicated when the edges of the leaves become distorted and turn brown. This occurs frequently in plants that may be in a colder climate than recommended or in a location with severe exposure. Provide protection from winter winds and winter sun. Note, if it is on all older leaves on all sides of the plant it could be boron poisoning or fertilizer burn. This will create the same symptoms except uniformly over the plant rather than just on areas exposed to the sun and wind. Boron poisoning is unusual and usually only occurs in nurseries that get the wrong type of perlite. However fertilizer burn is fairly common as is wind and cold damage. Here is a link that might be useful: How to grow rhododendrons and azaleas.

If the plant is grown on a slant the water will fall out from the leaves, these usually grow on hillsides, and their heads will face the sun. The more water you give it this time of the year the more bottom leaves it will lose, the fan is not helping it at all, they do need circulation in an inclosed room, but not directly on them. Check the soil, if it came directly from where you bought the plant change the soil, the plant may not even have roots. These grow in the spring, and like it on the cool side growing on cliff sides or hills of rocks, in Mexico mostly. I also live in So. Calif. Los Angeles Area, we grow ours in the greenhouse and it gets morning sun, and sun from a glass roof top that is high. My training is from the Huntington Gardens for the past l8 years, this plant may be started by cutting off the top and leave 2" of stem, them putting it into an empty pot until it gets roots, then replanting it into a very gritty mix, with very little potting soil . Follow the directions given just above. I have kept my own out all winter long and it did just fine. I check my soil, by putting a chop stick in the soil or a pencil, leave it in 5 minutes. Remember the root ball must get the water that is where the roots grow, not just the sides of the pot. You have a very small plant at this time. So give some time to grow. Best of luck, Norma

I thought the white particles were probably from the anode rod but wasn't sure about the 'jelly'. Here's more info from Aqua Source: Iron Bacteria Bacterial Iron, or Iron Bacteria is a strain of anaerobic, slime forming nuisance bacteria that consume iron for metabolism and trap this iron in a gelatin like mass. Iron Bacteria are usually easy to detect in the back of a toilet tank as this provides a good environment for their growth. Iron Bacteria are not pathogenic "disease causing" organisms but left unchecked can do long term damage to water wells, pump systems, piping and even water treatment equipment. The biomass generated by these organisms can damage a water well by filling up the fissures in rock to slow water flow to a crawl or a stop altogether. The gelatin like biomass created by these slime-forming bacteria may be periodically released in a slug causing intermittent discoloration to the water. Some forms of Iron Bacteria will also create foul odors in the piping system and water tanks.

A northwest window on top of the t.v. console is not enough light! It needs LOTS of very bright indirect light or a mix of indirect and dappled direct sun. The new growth is stretching because of low light levels and older leaves are prematurely dropping as the plant pulls needed resources our of old tissue to fuel growth. I've purchased several different plant species is self watering pots and invariably find them moderately to severely root bound, that is, when you go to knock the plant out of it's pot, there is nothing but a solid mass of roots, no loose soil. At this point the soil is exhausted. Fertilizing alone is of limited help. Re-potting must be done.