I hate to be the "Bear of bad news" but you have a serious case of mealy bugs. First thing is isolate it from other plants or they will get it too. I have had this on one of my cactus. For violets it is a little different. If you want to use a chemical substance I have read Acephate or Malathion. If you want a more natural approach then Neem Oil. If you use Neem oil take off all the flowers and spray it down as directed and make sure you get under the leaves also. The little boogers love to munch on the leaves and stems. I hope that helps and you can save it. Does look like quite alot.

I have never used NEEM or any other type chemical correction for bugs. Usually when I find a problem I want immediate treatment so I go for what I have on hand. I will say I have been fortunate. So here is what I would do.

#1 ISOLATE!!!!! Strip flowers, take off most of the leaves starting from the bottom row, and leave just a small rosette. Like a new baby plant. Then I would use a Qtip dipped in alcohol and go over what is left of that plant topside and underside. Sometimes, when treating with the alcohol, I use a sprayer bottle to really get into the trunk area. Spray can go where Qtip can't. Then ISOLATE in a baggie big enough to fit it. Watch it carefully. See more white??? go over it again. Make sure you don't over water the plant if it is in a baggie.

#2 ISOLATE!!!!!! Another way,,,just as brutal as the first is to take off a 4 leaves, wash them down with alcohol and start them in a baggie. And throw away the plant.

Yes,,,,I have done that when I have a severe infestation. This to me looks severe. When you look where the stem meets the trunk of the plant you are really going to see white mealies.

It is easier at this point to resort to method #2, restart leaves. Sorry,,,,been where you are going and it is hard but when you start looking way inside your plant, bets are, you are gonna be shocked.

Make sure you check every plant in the immediate surrounding area as soon as you are done dealing with this plant. Treat everything that has anything that even LOOKS like a mealy bug, And get waaay down the stem. Then fan outward and check all other plants of any kind that you have in the house, in other rooms etc. Mealy bugs travel on you and transfer to other hosts. Good luck. Rosie

Ugh..I wondered if it was mealy bugs and refrain from commenting..I'm going to second third and fourth isolating it. Ive had mealy bug issues with my succulents at times and a pain to get rid of...and even if you think they are gone..assume you have them just incase..they come back easily and very quickly

Amy mealies are nasty little creatures to get rid of but I can think of worse,,,like snakes in my garden!!! lol

Look, just get the blooms off, and get out that alcohol or Neem, whatever you choose, but treat a few leaves first and get them isolated in a baggie for hopefully backup. And just when you think they are gone,,,,,,,,look again, as Heather said, and don't take out of isolation just yet. Better to leave in isolation a little longer than to rush it and reinfect! Good luck,,,,let us know what happens. Rosie