You have a mealy bug infestation in progress. For future reference, (don't know if you usually do this or not) but any new plant acquisitions should always be quarantined for two to three months and routinely inspected during quarantine precisely because doing so can go along way to avoiding problems like this.

Mealies are relatives of aphids and, like aphids, many species can reproduce by parthenogenesis making their control difficult as the females are reproductive "machines", so population explosions are common if not detected and eradicated early. Again, like their aphid relatives, many species capable of parthenogenesis can give live birth as well as lay eggs. Adult females tend to be rather sedentary though they are capable of moving. The nymphs are more active and commonly refered to as "crawlers". If left unchecked they will quickly colonize just about any plants they can get to.

With bad infestations, you will be fighting an uphill battle. Inexpensive, commonly found plants are generally best tossed in the trash, or firepit, or -- if living in a snowy wonderland as I do -- put outside where the cold will kill the plant and mealys and then be used as compost. It simply is more trouble than most folks find it is worth to battle the bugs in such a situation. With more rare/expensive plants or those of strong sentimental value, then a treatment regime may go as follows:

1) Spray the entire above ground portion of the plant with straight rubbing alcohol, a systemic insecticide, or horticultural oil (note: in this latter case, plants may need to be kept out of direct sun for a week or two to prevent sun scorch, from what I have heard) -- including underside of leaves and in crevices. And,

2) Water the plant with a systemic insecticide.

*Treatment will need repeated every two to three weeks for a month or two in order to get any new bugs which hatched out or were born from missed eggs or surviving adults.

In very bad cases, the plant(s) may need to be repotted with the roots be rinsed of all old media as mealys will sometimes colonize the roots.

Since you appear to have a major infestation going on, DO NOT obtain any new plants until the mealys are eradicated, and any new additions should be quarantined for two to three months before being allowed to enter the general population.

I didn't buy any new plants in a awhile. I really hate to get rid of them, I buy most of my plants in 3" pots then just watch them grow, My bamboo is about 4' now was 8" went I bought it. so do you think I can just spray with alcohol every few days??

That will kill ones thoroughly wetted but eggs are more resistant, getting into all the crevices can be difficult, and they may also be amongst the roots in which case be unaffected. A systemic will likely have to come into play as well considering the situation. Bayer 3in1 can be sprayed as well as used as a soil drench. I do not generally use is as spray, however, as I do not want to get it all over my walls and furniture and it does leave residue spots on the leaves when it dries.

well I'll give it a try and keep you posted. thanks again

Before you go with the heavy chemicals, mix some dish detergent in warm water and add a couple of tablespoons of either garlic powder or the liquid from a jar of minced garlic. Wash every square inch of the plant with this solution and repeat in 10 days.

hi fawnridge, do I leave it on or do I rinse off, also can I water the plant with this solution?

Just like to say "thank you" to everyone

To bolster what Rina offered:

Dishsoap/
detergent’s effect on plants varies with the mode of exposure. If
the top of the plant is sprayed thoroughly with even mild detergent
solutions such that all surfaces including leaves are covered, the
detergent can easily dissolve the protective coating of cuticular wax
on the leaves of the plant, causing abnormally high rates of water
loss and possible necrosis of all or part of the leaf. Cuticular
waxes prevent leaves from drying out, and help stop pathogens from
attacking the leaf. Strong solutions will even dissolve cell
membranes, causing death of the cells.

If a detergent solution is used as a soil drench or makes its way into
the soil as a consequence of overspray or run-off, the effect on
roots is immediate. Because one of the main function of roots is to
absorb water and nutrients dissolved in water, they lack the waxy
protective coating that leaves employ. Detergent solution in contact
with root cells can quickly dissolve the lipid membrane
surrounding cells, killing the cells and inhibiting water/ nutrient
uptake. Hair cells growing as appendages off larger roots do the
lion’s share of assimilating water and nutrients, and these very
delicate cells would be the first casualty of any detergent in the
root zone.

There are widely available insecticidal soaps, designed to be used
topically and made from potassium fatty acids, that are specifically
formulated to be safe for mammals & birds, death on most insects
they contact, and safe for plants. If you need something soapy, it
would be much better if you selected a product intended for use on
plants than one intended for other purposes.

Al