aaaah!!! I guess I will try to use water to first dislodge any that I can before using the neem oil. The ceph is too big and I don't notice any retardation in its growth. The only problem is getting the water through all the nooks and crannies.
You can do a bit more harm than good by "hosing down" a Cephalotus to rid it of mites. The neem oil solution is quite enough in terms of water; and there is little chance in causing crown rot in a finicky little plant . . .