Unless you treat with a pesticide, preferably a systemic one, you should throw it out.

I would start now and not even bring it inside until they drop off.

Ken. You have me a laugh on that last sentence. Lol. Much needed today

Yes, funny funny. sometimes I try to give advice on something I know nothing about, esp. if the poster has gotten no replies; usually label it as ”my 2 cents.”

I have had scale on another plant, a schefflera, on the backs of the leaves. I wiped them off with a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol. Could be a tedious job but you could try it, maybe a Q-tip. I know the spines arent as bad as they look. I wonder if you should repot if mechanical removal is successful. That’s 2 cents worth of advice.

Those scale bumps are very strange because I cannot wipe, scape or pull off these scale! The bumps appear to be growing under the plant's top layer.(unlike my citrus and gardenia that I can easily remove) The 'under-skin bumps' are not on other plants, so the plant must be weak or unfortunate! Very weird.

For some reason, my crown of thorn plants all have small root systems ,so I keep them all in small pots...Am I alone?

I pitched my 'bumpy' crown of thorns plant already! Thanks all

You’re not alone. Crown of thorns are in the euphorbia family of succulents. Many cacti / succulents have shallow root systems.

Also (and this is just my personal opinion), I’ve found that Neem Oil does wonders on plant pests I’ve had scale on some of my plants before and Neem Oil seems to kill scale