If, under magnification, you have no reason to think it's related to a living organism, it might simply be dissolved solids left behind from an exudate - sort of like the limey deposits often seen of tea kettles or plumbing. Sometimes, either by the process of guttation or through mechanical injury sites, sap is forced from the plant under pressure. When the water in the exudate evaporates, whatever was dissolved or suspended in the water - sugar, mineral salts, resins, ....... is left behind. Al

Thank you for your response!! I'm re-posting an email that sent I to your email just in case you didn't receive it. Yes, the one with the yellow blooms is not the cane variety but it is losing leaves as well. The one that dropped all the leaves this morning --more or less all of a sudden--was the spotted angel wing. I have three different begonias planted in a large container together all outside. I don't know what the third one is, but it's short and kind of clumped up, reddish leaves growing close to the soil surface--I think it's called a begonia :dewdrop." seems to be doing well. I probably put them all together in a too big pot I suppose and possibly overwatered after a recent short heat spell. Can you tell me why the container size matters? Is it because there is too much soil that stays moist for too long? Do you think I should repot the spotted angel wing in a smaller container with a faster draining soil? Maybe I can save it. Again, thanks so much for your reply.

What kind of soil is it in? Virtually all containerized houseplants need regular nutritional supplementation; so YES, you should have a good fertilizer on hand and have a strategy in place that includes regular fertilizing that is adjusted in relation to the changes in growth habit as the plant makes it's way through the growth cycle. No one can tell you how to fertilize w/o knowing something about your soil and your watering habits, because those factors determine how much you use and how often you use it. If I guessed you were just getting interested in learning how to best provide for your plants' cultural needs, would I be right? In most cases, the manner in which a person addresses the issues for which you seek guidance will depend on your level of experience. I use, as do many others, and highly recommend Dyna-Gro's Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 fertilizer. There are a number of reasons for this, and I can direct you to a thread that lays out those reasons if you have interest. Your plant probably shouldn't be fertilized until you see signs of new growth. My guess is, the soil has been kept overly wet, which accounts for a very high % of the problems for which folks eventually arrive here in search of resolution. Once all the leaves fall, the amount of water your plant uses will be minuscule, so make sure you do not over-water. If you don't know how to use a wooden dowel/skewer as a tell, and want to, just ask. Many folks here use or have used that method with good results. It doesn't lie and will tell you when your plant does/doesn't need water. Al

gabro14, I probably should let up a bit on watering them though... make it about once a month. Lately, I've watered them that frequently because they seem to start wrinkling after a couple weeks. As much as I hate to say it, I am ready to get into the real thing. I sometimes feel that some college classes have little to do with what I want to become (a police officer). So I'm not working 9-5 necessarily lol, just 12 hour shifts when I do work (about 4 days a week). I have thought about going to graduate school, but don't feel that going there is now is for me, you know? I am happy with my two BA's (or will be rather). Thanks for the good luck, I hope everything works out too. Thanks for your advice and your opinions. P.S. Have you ever heard of a ponytail palm? I bought a set of 9 a little over a month ago and... they died! I watered them the other day and looked at them this morning and they were all dead... what a bummer! This was the first time I watered them since I bought them!