Question
I have an Umbrella Tree..it has stick white almost lice/fuzz
on some of the leaves and on the trunk..its sticky when you
touch it..I have many other plants who thrive with my care,
this one really needs something...I also have lots of gnats on
a Christmas Cactus..can you please help me?

Answer
Ivy,

The Christmas Cactus is easy, it is being kept too wet. You need to let it get dryer between waterings. It needs to feel light weight before you water it and you need to cut back on the amount you give it. You also should never leave water in the drain tray. It is not a swamp plant.

The umbrella tree has insects called mealy bugs hiding under that white cottony looking stuff. The sticky stuff is their excrement. You need to take q-tips dipped in rubbing alcohol in a bowl and flick or wipe these insects off. They are sucking on the plant besides looking bad. Once you get them off you need to put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and every 2-3 days for a month you need to spray the plant well to kill any mealy bugs that hatch out before they mature and lay more eggs. Eggs can hatch for up to a month and you don't want these bugs back so you need to spray the plant, the trunk, the fronts and backs of all leaves and the surface of the soil. After a month if you are consistent you will be rid of the mealy bugs. Closely inspect other plants in your collection and if you find mealy bugs give them the same treatment. Good luck.

Darlene