Plant Dying

On a more thorough inpection, it seems the plant didn't fare so well during my absence as my initial cursory glance suggested. Curse my unobservant eye.

Here are some pictures of said foliage showing the alarming white crud and brown fronds.






Any ideas, you haughty culturalists out there? No, not you Maureen.

..and please don't tell the wife. She'll kill me with a glance and a tut.