Question

Plant & disease   I need to identify this palm in order to work out the optimum conditions for it, becasue it has a disease (flaky, white spots/scales on leaves and stems - they can be rubbed off with the finger but leave some white staining).
I have attached a picture of the plant and the diseease.

The plant is in a centrally heated room in Germany (i tell you this for the climate zone), it is on a wheeled stand and can be moved closer or further from direct sun coming in the window. It seems to be watered correctly.

The disease is widespread but not yet dense.
I'd be grateful with help identifying the specific palm and the disease.

Answer
Neil

Your plant is an Areca Palm, a common indoor house plant...Type ARECA PALM into your search engine and compare the pictures on one of the sites to your plant...

The insects on it are called Mealybugs (a type of soft scale insect)...The white fuzzy material is where the eggs are and is the easiest way to ID the pest...Mealybugs are a common pest problem on many indoor house plants...You have a very large infestation of them on your plant...Looks like they have been on your plant for quite some time now...The best way to control pest problems is to catch the problem early before a large population of the pest exist...With that said I would recommend getting rid of the plant so it does not spread to any other plants you have...At this point it will be hard to get rid of the Mealybug infestation on your plant...

If you need to try & save the plant I would do the following:
1. Go to a local garden center and see what they recommend as an insecticide to get rid of Mealybugs...Here in the USA (New Jersey) I would recommend a Safer Soap product...most Carbamate and Oganophosphates have been taken off the market...

2. If the daytime temperatures are above 60 degrees put the plant outside and wash the whole plant with a hose trying to knock off as much of the bugs (and white webbing)...Do it 2-3 times and then let it dry in between hosings...If it is too cold outside - put it in the shower or bathtub and do the same...  

3. Next following the directions on the pesticide label apply the pesticide accordingly....Wear protective clothing, safety glasses, and a respirator.

4. Isolate it to a room where you have no other plants...Check it every 7-14 days for re-emergent of the Mealybugs...

5. Retreat with the pesticide as soon as you see new Mealybugs...

Here is a tip for watering your plant...My guess is you are letting it go too dry in between waterings

Water your plant based on how much it weighs when thoroughly watered VS when it is ready to be watered again. Plants die from too frequent waterings, not from how much water you give them at one time. Pick up or lean the pot and feel how heavy it is after watering it thoroughly. Don't water it again until it feels considerably lighter and the top of the soil is light in color. Depending on plant types, sunlight exposure and pot size plants will need water at many different rates from once a day to once a month or more...

Good luck with your project.

Rick in southern New Jersey