First of all, this does not appear to be Jade, Crassula ovata, but most likely Portulacaria afra. Secondly, you waited a bit long to take action. The sooner you can address a problem, the better chance of a successful result. You did not say how often you water. I have had good sucess with Jades, but not P. afra, which in my experience anyway, is a bit more tricky to grow well. I would check the roots for rot, trim off any dead branches and roots back to live tissue and hope for the best.

Christopher

Thanks for the help.
Yes, it is a P. afra. I have been watering when the soil gets dry, about once every other or third day.

Have you examined closely for mites ?
Nothing to critical but has the wire been on to long or is it to tight ?

Watering: Every third day could be a bit to often but by what volume of watering, Sometimes to much watering this often could show results by leaf shedding.
Odd chance but, I'm sometimes very tempted by the sunny higher temp days to do but bringing it out side for a few good rays for a couple hours is near suicide, leaf shedding happens when temperature and climate changes happen to suddenly.

Wow, that's a lotta watering! Way too much, especially this time of year. If the plant is still alive, and you do trim the roots, do not water for at least a week afterwards to give the roots time to heal. Seems you know something of bonsai, but you need to read up on the specific requirements of this plant. This is not a typical bonsai, it is a succulent, remember. And I am sure others here with more experience with P. afra share their experiences with this plant.

Good luck with it.

Christopher

No mites. Wire isn't too tight. I just took off all the wire and trimmed back all the dead-looking/shriveled branches.

The main trunk area seems to have a part where the 'bark' is a little loose and I can squeeze in on the trunk a little bit. At a few large areas near the first major division of branches it is very solid.

Is the area that I can compress rotted?

Thanks everyone for the responses and help.

If the area you can compress feels soft and mushy, it may be rot. I think you need to check the roots also.

Christopher

Too much water for one thing.

Thanks to everyone for your help.
I have greatly reduced it now. I also now have two potential trees as the main trunk was rotted. The two main branches were fine. I cut those off and will let the ends callous over, then try to plant them.
It's a shame, I had this thing for years and it traveled across country with me.

I am sorry for your loss and wish good luck to your cuttings

I have grown mine for years 70yrs 50+ yrs They are are very hard to kill. They don't like water and when you water do it thoroughly water mine once in 3 months, it is varietaged and no fertilizer that I can remember. I purchased mine when 7-9 yrs old. I have never been able to flower this plant. I just can't get it hot enough. they can grow to huge size. I noticed your zone, very cold winters, it does not like high humidity. It is an African plant remember. Perhaps if you trim off the dead tips it may come back, Is it a variegated form. I will take temps down into 20F if left dry. I am hoping you can save your plant If not I'll send you a piece of mine-- Norma Lewis