White bugs on stem, please help.

These showed up this morning. So did ants in the soil. Bummer. Is there anything I can do? This plant is growing in our greenhouse.

those are called mealybugs. most likely the ants are there to "farm" them. (they do it with aphids too, among other things.) the ants won't damage your plants, but they tend to render predatory bugs ineffective. i watched the ants in my outdoor flower garden gallantly fight off a ladybug onslaught (i released some of the ones we bought for the Room outside).

http://houseplants.about.com/od/pests/a/Mealybugs.htm

i had an ant chop down a plant of mine 6 inches tall i shit you not. but the ants should take care of it, maybe a little neem if they dont

Why are they there? Is the plant stem rotting? i think the plant has an issue.

Thanks so much for your help. I used soapy water and haven't had a problem since.