Hi Barbara - Your plant has a pretty bad infestation of mealybugs. They can be eradicated successfully with a solution of 5 parts water, 1 part isopropyl alcohol and a squirt of liquid dish soap mixed in a spray bottle.
The key to success is spraying ALL leaf and stem surfaces until they are DRIPPING wet. If you miss just a few that survive between the spray droplets, they will reproduce and come back to haunt you. That is why the q-tip application method is ineffective.
But you have another problem and that is the textured pole that you have your plant is attached to. I am sure there are mealybugs on this material as well. So you will have to find a way to soak the pole with the same solution.
Good luck!
