I have a Schefflera that I started from a cutting over 18 years ago. It's pretty big and has been extremely healthly until now. The stems coming off the main branch have drooped and now the leaves are turning light brown. The stems all have ridges - almost like the plant is withering from lack of water - but I know that's not the problem. There are no mites and no bugs whatsoever. It gets plenty of non-direct sunlight and the temperature in that area stays fairly consistent. This started about 2 months ago and I lightly fertilized with some plant food at that time. Can a plant just die of old age? Should I try cutting off some branches? I will attach some pics - hope they are of some help. I really want to save it! Thanks.
it could have root mealies. or it might just need the soil refreshed and/or repotted into a larger container. if it's been over two years since the soil and/or container was changed, i'd do that first...and check the roots for mealies while it's unpotted. don't fertilize until the plant has recovered.
Scratch them stem to see if is green underneath, if it is brown go down the stem until you reach a part that is still green underneath. This is where you should cut off the branches and stem. If the entire plant is brown under the "bark" then there is not real hope for it. The branches that look withered will not recover and you can cut those off, it is possible that it has caught a disease or virus. Hope this helps.
It does really look like it got dried out. Have you poked around inside the potting medium to make sure it is moist all the way through? Otherwise, a tropical plant being exposed to low temperatures might also develop a cooked appearance and collapse.