Question
my mother has a schefflera that she got about fifteen years ago and up until a couple of years ago it was healthy.about two years ago small(1/8in or smaller)white spots began to appear on the leaves just a few scattered on the plant then a few more until now perhaps a tenth of the leaves have at least one spot.the spots are white,fuzzy,and sticky to the touch,she thinks its sometime of fungus but doesn't know what. when she places any other plant near it dies(the other plant)the schefflera seems healthy otherwise.we would like to find a non toxic remedy for this if possible.

Answer
Hi Barb,

I think it is unlikely that the problem is a fungus.  Most fungi would not exude a sticky substance.  More likely, the problem is due to an insect infestation.  There are many types of insects that attack schefflera including scales, mealybugs and aphids.  You will have to take a close look at the leaves (upper and lower surfaces) to try to figure out which insect is responsible.  When these types of insects feed on the plant, they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew.  That is what your mother has noticed.

There are many different methods to control insects.  It will be helpful to identify the exact insect so that you can better treat the problem.  In general, you can start with a strong stream of water to spray the insects off the plant.  They are often difficult to dislodge, so gentle rubbing may help.  Other recommendations are to use soapy water or a commercial product called insecticidal soap.  You need to be careful with homemade formulations because sometimes they can burn the plant leaves.  There are many homemade recipes available on the internet.  Some of them include additives like black pepper, hot sauce or oil to help improve the products.  If the problem is mealybugs, sometimes you can use alcohol swabs for control.  Again, if you can identify the exact culprit, you can look up non-toxic rememedies for the problem or reply to this message and I can help direct you.

Good luck!