Do they have mold or bud rot?

[breaddumplings]

I thought things were going OK but someone was concerned my plants had bud rot. They are auto flowers being grown outside in pots in North Eastern United States. One of the varieties is purple.

The one big white thing seems like it's some sort of fluff or spider silk but I'm a noob so could be wrong.

I also brought in the very top of a plant about a week ago so pics of that. The spot where I cut is white on the plant outside but that just seems like it's dead and dry and not like a fungus or mold.

 

[Rooke]

Looks like it could be some sort of yarn? Weird huh?

 

[breaddumplings]

Looks like it could be some sort of yarn? Weird huh?

Yeah, it definitely seems like something that blew in and just got stuck. I wasn't over thinking all this until suddenly I was

 

[HerbalEdu]

3rd and 4th photos might have have some white powdery mildew on some leaves not sure ...

 

[Sunin]

mildew on photos, yes

but that first one is some crap wind blew in- probably piece of cotton bud