Tesshi

That is scale. You did good by using alcohol/water mixture, but that is not enough.
Even if you clean what 'bumps' are visible, there are probably more left in hiding places.
I only had mild scale problem so far & alcohol was enough, but you may have to do more. You can search this forum for lots of good suggestions - here I copied something for you, posted by Al (tapla) in another thread:

Posted by tapla z5b-6a mid-MI (My Page) on Mon, Aug 27, 12 at 4:03

Imidicloprid is an over-the-counter insecticide that is effective against scale. It is available in a vehicle designed to be sprinkled on the soil, a liquid soil drench that usually has no mixing directions for indoor applications, and in preparations designed to be used as a spray, but the actual spraying needs to be done outdoors and the application allowed to dry on the plant before bringing the plant indoors. I find the later (the spray) to be most effective for houseplants, particularly for trees and other plants with woody stems. I use Bayer Advanced 3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control, which is an excellent product when scale infestations occur, and can be used against mites. The product also includes a systemic fungicide that is very effective as a prophylactic and a fixitive against most fungal infections, should you encounter one. All in all, it's a good multiple purpose product to have at your disposal for indoor or outdoor containerized plants, but remember to follow directions and particularly that the spraying is to be undertaken outdoors only.
Also effective against scale are horticultural oils that have the word(s) light - summer - or all-season in their names. When using the oils, COMPLETE coverage is required or it's likely the infestation will be recurrent. Neem oil is also very effective against scale, but requires persistence. Often, being faithful to 4-6 applications at 2-3 week intervals are required to rid the plant of reproducing adults. Home remedies like alcohol preparations and fish emulsion solutions may have some knockdown effect on predators in the crawler stage, but leave adults under their protective shells largely unaffected, leaving eradication by these methods unlikely.

Al

Al, I hope you don't mind...Thanx.

Here is thread above is copied from (for more ideas how to deal with scale):
click here to read more

(Make sure you don't leave plant in sun when you apply any solution, it will burn the leaves more than likely.)

Rina

Your plant has an infestation of scale insects..oldsters and youngsters. There are thousands of scale species but only a few seem to loooooove our indoor plants.

Adult scale insect latch onto a promising location, insert their little needle-like beaks into the plant...and siphon plant sap from that one spot for the duration of their lives. That sticky sap is called 'honey dew'...it's the excrement from the scale insects.

Just wanted to note that you should keep it away from other plants until you know for sure the scale infestation is gone as it will spread if you're not careful. I lost almost all my plants one year after I brought home a cactus with scale. I didn't see any scale present on the cactus after bringing it home but within a couple weeks my Hydrangea and hostas had scale and I narrowed it down the culprit, the cactus.

Planto

If you'd like to show some pictures of the foliage, we'd be happy to help you figure out what the plant is. It may be something you can chop off to re-grow, which could be the easiest way to get rid of this pest.

The bark looks like schefflera .....

Al

Hi Tesshi,

Your plant looks like a Night Blooming Cereus! If this were my plant, I would cut the plant back drastically until no sign of scale was visible. I would then spray it with a solution of warm water, Neem Oil and Dawn Dish Detergent twice a week for about 6 weeks. Once it produces new growth repot it and spray again for about 3 weeks. That should take care of the scale. Good luck!

mercedesladie

correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Night Blooming Cereus a cactus? This plant doesn't look like cactus to me...?

Yes, your plant definately has Scale.

You might not like the fishy odor, but Fish Emulsion killed every single scale on an Olive tree shipped from a nursery.

I didn't notice scale at first, so it was placed between two citrus trees. A day or two later, while misting, I discovered a vast amount of brown bumps on my new plant. Both citrus branches nearest the olive were covered with these awful insects.

A grower in Florida where my citrus were purchased told me they use Fish Emulsion as a scale preventative. I followed her directions, sprayed my plants with Fish Emulsion and water.
The scale-infested tree was shipped here 1999...to this day, 'since I spray w/FE twice a year,' my plants have been scale-free.

Fish Emulsion has a fishy smell, but works and is organic. It's also used as an organic fertilizer...the odor is harmless to humans and pets. And it works.

Do you have a picture of your entire plant? Toni

Wow Toni, I didn't know FE was a good defense against scale/scale killer. I'll have to remember that!

Planto

Hi Planto. How have you been?

Yes, FE works great. My olive tree was so infested, same with the citrus branches, yet after spraying with FE, every, single scale died.

Before bringing plants indoors in autumn, each plant gets a good spraying with FE and other home made ingredients. Toni

Toni,
I've been doing good, how about yourself? You mentioned "and other home made ingredients." What else do you use besides FE? Is it safe on all plants (I forgot to ask that earlier, I'm suspecting it is as it's more natural than store bought sprays).

Planto

Howdy Planto.

Glad you're well. Actually, I was very ill beginning in July, got worse in August. Feeling better now.

Ingredients. For Scale, FE alone does the job, but preventing/ridding other insects such as Mites, I mix a bunch of home-made ingredients together.

Water
2-4 drops dish soap...'not liquid Dawn.'
Garlic
Hot Pepper
Citrus peel or juice
Listerine, 'mouthwash.'

If absolutely necessary, cigarette butts..I do not recommend cigs, but it's a sure way to kill unwanted insects. Cig butts is the only ingredient that can be harmful to a plant. I prefer organic...refuse chemicals.

Now, if I can find a way to rid Mealy! lol.

For years, my plants have been insect free. I spray w/above ingredients every other week, minus cig butts and FE.

Before hauling plants indoors before winter, each plant is sprayed w/this concoction plus FE. Because FE works as an organic fertilizer, I consider FE to work as a last feeding before winter.
BTW, when plants are sprayed every other week, all but FE and cigs is included. I only use FE in spring and autumn, unless a newly shipped plant happens to be scale infested.

Works for my plants w/o nasty chemicals. Toni

That is scale, most certainly.

And may I add, I see some thorns.. which makes me think you have a citrus tree or at least something in the Rutaceae family. Have you crushed the leaves? Are they aromatic?

Used Organic Espresso grounds are the only way I have found to kill scale. Cold brew the used grounds in filtered water for 12 hours, using a 1:4 weight ratio grounds:water. Make sure to warm it back up to room temperature before spraying your plants. Also, mulch the base of the tree and surrounding soil with used grounds. Scale hibernate in the soil/roots over winter and can come back just when you think you've killed them all. Those two practices, combined with meticulous washing of the plant in your backyard or even shower (I have no outside space) and hand picking the nasty buggers is the only way you'll kill them all. You have to repeat the spray religiously every three days for a month to be completely sure they're all killed.

Neem oil also helps, but it smells and leaves a residue if you can't wash it off properly. I would recommend using it sparingly.

Coffee is wonderful and natural. The alkaloid contents give scale a run for its money!!