Question
i have had my umbrella  plant for about 1o years and it as suddenly developed what look like aphids on the leaves, what can i do about it

Answer
Hi Maggie,

Here are some notes about aphids.  They reproduce very, very quickly because they need no males for reproduction.  These populations thrive on new growth and are found most often at the growing tips of the plants where new tissue is found.

Aphids are small (1 mm to 6 mm), soft-bodied and pear-shaped. Individuals may or may not be winged; antennae and legs are fairly long. Aphids feeding on plant sap cause leaves to become curled and crinkled. They also excrete a sticky substance called honeydew that may completely coat the foliage. Honeydew attracts ants and is a substrate for black sooty molds.

Hosts
Aphids infest nearly all types of indoor, greenhouse, garden and ornamental plants. Colonies are most commonly found on the shoots of new growth, but also may appear under leaves, on stems or on bulbs and roots.

Control options
Chemical

Apply an insecticidal soap.
Use the botanical insecticides pyrethrins or neem.


Biological
Three aphid predators available commercially are the green lacewing, convergent lady beetle and the aphid-eating gall midge. These predators can substantially help control aphids.  Biological control measures are useful in outdoor and greenhouse settings, but would be of no use indoors. Also, once you place your plant outdoors in the summer, natural predators will control the aphid populations.  

Mechanical

Wash plants with soapy water (2 teaspoons mild detergent per gallon of water) and a soft brush, making sure to wash the undersides of leaves.

Prune or pinch off heavily infested plant parts.

During warm weather, take infested plants outside and hose them off with a stream of water.

Control small populations of aphids by squashing the soft-bodied insects with your fingers.

Cultural

Use slow-release fertilizers with moderate proportions of nitrogen. Aphids, like mealybugs and scale, thrive on plants with overly succulent growth (often due to high nitrogen levels). Do not overfertilize.

Quarantine new plants and treat before placing them among established plants.