Scale Infestation

This appears to be scale, a sap sucking insect that attaches itself to the leaves and stems. Wiping them off with a damp cloth can be effective if caught early. However, your infestation is quite severe. If you wish to undertake chemical control, spray the entire plant (especially the underside of the leaves) with a product labeled for scale control. Or try a systemic (Bayer 3-in-1 Advanced Insect Disease & Mite Control is one example). You should also prune off and dispose of the most heavily infested parts of the plant to physically remove as many insects as possible. This looks like a Fatsia, which is quite prone to scale. Here is a link that you might find helpful: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html

This appears to be a type of scale, cottony cushion scale, and is a sap sucking insect that attaches itself to the leaves and stems. Wiping them off with a damp cloth can be effective if caught early, but yours may be more extensive. Organic controls include spraying with horticultural oil being sure to coat all leaf surface. Make sure you spray in the early evening to prevent sun scald. Or cut off the worst of the infected leaves if it will not defoliate your plant. If you wish to undertake chemical control, look for a systemic formulated for scale and for maple plants. Use according to directions for your plant.
Here is the same link on pests that you might find helpful: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html

This appears to be two types of scale, (brown scale and cottony cushion scale), but both are sap sucking insects that attach themselves to the leaves and stems. Wiping them off with a damp cloth can be effective if caught early, but yours is more extensive. Organic controls include spraying with horticultural oil being sure to coat all leaf surface, but take outside before spraying. Make sure you spray in the early evening to prevent sun scald. Or cut off the worst of the infected leaves if it will not defoliate your plant. If you wish to undertake chemical control, look for a systemic formulated for scale and for your container gardenia plant. Use according to directions for your plant.
Here is a link that you might find helpful: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7408.html

This is an excellent photo of an insect known as scale, a sap sucking insect that attaches itself to the leaves, flowers and stems. Under the shell is either the sucking insect or she has died and the shell is full of young yet to hatch scale. Inspect other nearby plants and treat them at the first sight of insect. They can be controlled with any insecticide containing Imidachloprid which is a systemic insecticide -- you will drench the soil and the insecticide will be sucked up by roots and into the branches, leaves and hopefully the scale. You can also spray the plant above the soil line with 15:1 water:Ivory soap. Also a horticultural oil will act as a suffocant. If there are not too many, try to gently remove them with your fingernail and dispose in a bucket of soapy water.

Thank you for your follow up and although it is often challenging to identify insects without a clear close up, we also realize our users need guidance if at all possible. The dark bumps are the insect known as Scale, a sap sucking insect that attaches itself to the leaves, flowers and stems. This looks like a pretty severe infestation. Under the shell is either the sucking insect or she has died and the shell is full of young yet to hatch scale. Inspect other nearby plants and treat them at the first sight of insect. They can be controlled with any insecticide containing Imidachloprid which is a systemic insecticide -- you will drench the soil and the insecticide will be sucked up by roots and into the branches, leaves and hopefully the scale. You can also spray the plant above the soil line with 15:1 water:Ivory soap. Also a horticultural oil will act as a suffocant. If there are not too many, try to gently remove them with your fingernail and dispose in a bucket of soapy water.

Thank you for your follow up and ialthough it is often challenging to identify insects without a clear close up, we also realize our users need guidance if at all possible. We think the dark bumps resemble armored scale, a sap sucking insect that attaches itself to the leaves, flowers and stems. The most common one is Lecanium scale This looks like a pretty severe infestation. Under the shell is either the sucking insect or she has died and the shell is full of young yet to hatch scale. Inspect other nearby plants and treat them at the first sight of insect. It can be controlled with any insecticide containing Imidachloprid which is a systemic insecticide -- you will drench the soil and the insecticide will be sucked up by roots and into the branches, leaves and hopefully the scale. You can also spray the plant above the soil line with 15:1 water:Ivory soap. Also a horticultural oil will act as a suffocant, but we are afraid the oil will ruin the delicate petals of the gerber flower. If there are not too many, try to gently remove them with your fingernail and dispose in a bucket of soapy water.