---
title: "Is this cystoliths on my Piper crocatum? It wasn’t there yesterday.…"
description: "Is this cystoliths on my Piper crocatum? It wasn’t there yesterday. Wipe off with my finger and feels like extremely fine granules."
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/JqIzR16sKtIaDouwZyd5mS"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Grandma2aDancer"
published: "2025-06-29T17:08:39.504628Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/U-wjg7HX6faVci2I8RANonPRVqns8lxY_7WzJMP-Lvk/_9EMPoKMR3Wd_rXxbX4CLg.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# Is this cystoliths on my Piper crocatum? It wasn’t there yesterday.…

_Posted by Grandma2aDancer on 2025-06-29_

Is this cystoliths on my Piper crocatum? It wasn’t there yesterday. Wipe off with my finger and feels like extremely fine granules.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/U-wjg7HX6faVci2I8RANonPRVqns8lxY_7WzJMP-Lvk/_9EMPoKMR3Wd_rXxbX4CLg.webp?size=large)

## 7 comments

### Grandma2aDancer commented on 2025-06-29

If anyone could help me out, I’d really appreciate it. I put it in the trash bag I had out, but decided just because I didn’t know what it was, didn’t mean it was a bad thing. When I googled, that’s when I found the cystolith info. I don’t want to do something extreme if this is a normal something. Thanks for any help you can give!

### Waspinator commented on 2025-06-29

That looks exactly like reference photos of the sugar crystals cystoliths create. You can reduce light and water slightly less often to prevent the extra sugar production. Or just embrace the unique feature as long as it isn't attracting pests

#### Grandma2aDancer replied on 2025-06-29

OK-Thank you so very very much!!!!!!

#### Buffy replied on 2025-06-29

Never heard of this! Thanks for bringing this up.

#### Grandma2aDancer replied on 2025-06-30

I hadn’t either, until today😊

### Syd commented on 2025-09-26

Just got this plant! Thank you for the heads up!! Are they toxic those little granules? And should they be left on the plant or should we wipe them off? Thank you in advance! 😊

#### Aroidmama replied on 2025-10-19

@syd Leave them they don’t hurt the plant and they are not toxic. The plant actually produces sugar to attract ants and pollinators for them to have a symbiotic relationship. The ants eat the sugar, but they eat the pests as well.

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