What it sounds like is a fungal infection of any of several fungi grouped under the umbrella of damping-off diseases, which started in the roots and moved systemically to infect stem tissue. If I'm correct, there isn't much hope. I'd lift the plant from its pot and inspect the roots, looking for roots that are dark or slimy, or those that when pulled result in the roots outer layer sliding off, leaving nothing but the root cortex. Healthy roots will smell earthy, like moist and fertile topsoil. If roots smell sour or slightly reminiscent of hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), it's not a good sign.

Let us know what you find and what things look like in the root zone.

Al

what al said.. but could we see the whole plant including the pot....

and slide it out of the pot;. and show us the roots ...

ken

Ok, this guy put up a fight getting out of that pot. The roots look pretty normal to me, albeit quite crowded. Does anything look off to you?

No - they look quite healthy, albeit congested. Please explain again what you mean about the stem.

Al

at the base of the leaves (can you call those leaves?) where they attach to the stem has started to turn tan/brown and very crunchy. it seems to be affecting a lot of them, primarily on one side so far. it kind of seems similar to how the ends get when they turn brown, except its at the wrong end, if thst makes any sense.

The points from which leaves grow (nodes) on this plant are extremely close together and the base of the leaves overlap somewhat, so when you remove a dead/dying leaf, part of the proximal part of the leaf (the base) remains attached to the stem and dries up. In both of the images you supplied in your original post, the stem is not exposed. What can be seen is only the persistent vestiges of the proximal ends of the dead or dying leaves, still attached to the stem. When you remove an older leaf by pulling it off (as opposed to removal using scissors, you often expose the proximal end of the leaf/leaves immediately above the one you remove, which will look different because condition under the protective older leaf would have been more moist and shaded from light. The area that appears white and scaly is a combination of dust and mineral residues left behind. It looks like the plant has been outdoors or when you water, water is collecting in the leaf axils (crotch formed by the leaf and stem). As the water evaporates, the minerals that were dissolved in the water are left behind, much like the scale that builds up on a tea kettle over time.

I took your original post to mean it was actually the stem that was affected, but the images belie that idea. I don't really see anything I'd be concerned about, but I would plan a full repot (includes bare-rooting, root pruning, and a complete change of soil) sometime just before Father's Day or the Summer Solstice.

This Overview of Good Growing Practices should be very helpful.

Al

Thank you! it usually spends summers on the balcony since the apartment is darker than most plants like. I'll repot and keep an eye on it to dry out the top if it rains