What is this growth near my Rose?

I took a shot of the pot my rose is in, with a strange flaky growth.

 

Hi Track & welcome to Gardeners Corner.

I'm afraid your pic isn't loading.

 

Oops, can see it now but its too big for the page, could you re size it a bit smaller please.

 

erm I can't see the first post at all... it's not there is there sokmthing wrong with the forum?

 

Aesculus, you are not on your own. :WINK1:

 

Weirder and weirder!

In Track's profile 2 posts are indicated but none found!!

Wots up Doc!!!

 

Think they've deleted their account?

 

I can see it, clear as a bell and I usually have problems with some posted pictures. As a one time potter, I think it's just salts leeching out of the clay of the pot. Could be wrong and am happy to concede if anyone comes up with a better idea.:WINK1:

Chris

 

Oh, now I see all the posts, earlier the 1st/2nd posts were by Ziggy.

 

What do you guys mean by "Salts"? How do I fix it? Is it bad for my rose?

 

Porous ceramics can contain various salt particles that were trapped in the water, or within the clay itself, when the pot was made, and this can leech out over time if the humidity around the piece changes.
Sometimes it can look like white hairs growing out of the pottery ~ like this in the picture of a very old tile... which is what the stuff on your pot looks like, so Marley Farley is probably right as to what they are. Just use a brush or a cloth to wipe the stuff away, it shouldn't be a problem.