Question
I have an extremely common indoor plant that I don't know the name of. It has a bark-like trunk, leafs with 7-8 green pedals. Many pedals have a yellowish swirl.

The problem is that is secretes this sticky stuff that gets all over everything. It also causes dust in the house to stick to it.

Can you tell me how to remove and prevent the sticky stuff? Do you have enough information on the type of plant to answer my question?

Thanks for any help.


Answer
Hi Mike
It sounds as if you have a "Mini Schefflera" or "Arbrocola", it goes by both names.  
I believe you may have a houseplant pest called 'scale'.  You will see bumps, oval to round in shape, brownish in color, along the stalk and under the leaves.  They are wingless and legless, they stick to the plant and live off of the 'sap' from the plant.  They secrete what is called 'honeydew', which is probably the sticky stuff you are finding.
Scale is very hard to control if it left untreated.  Your best bet is to take alcohol soaked cotton and try to wipe along the stalk and under the leaves, then spray with either a houseplant pest spray or you can mix rubbing alcohol and dish soap with water into a spray bottle and spray the plant.  If it is too infested though, your best bet is to just get rid of the plant.  You do not want your other plants infested.  In fact, it will be smart to treat all of your other plants.
I hope this has helped you Mike
Good Luck and let me know if you have any other questions.
Leslie