Help with my bonsai tree.

[Myownwendyhouse]

I have inherited a huge bonsai tree from a family member. I know nothing about them but it was going to be got rid off and I couldn't see a tree that gorgeous or that expensive be thrown away.

But. Now I have a problem. I have added a photo so you can see. But the the tree had a few small bits of soft white cotton stuff on it when I got it.

It is now spreading all over the entire tree. And I have no idea what it is or how to go about getting rid of it.

It is soft like snow and comes off easily. Can anyone help.

I'd guess it's woolly aphid, which can be a pest on fruit trees and Cotoneaster. A good general purpose bug spray might get rid of it, but as I've never had it I can't give further advice. And I may be wrong on the ID.

I had an indoor plant that was plagued by woolly aphids. I wiped off as many as possible with damp cotton wool buds, took it outside and squirted it with water out of a plant sprayer, and left it to dry off. Then I sprayed it with bug spray.
Had to do it several times, and I found the plant did better outside in the summer, got rid of the bugs in the end and then forgot to water the plant and killed it anyway

I did wonder abiut putting it outside