Scale Infestation

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.