Looks like a juniper procumben. If the base pebbles and moss are glued...remove that imediately! That could be a majority of the problem. Box stores are known for that sort of thing. Second...this tree is an outdoor bonsai. (No matter what the tag said) it also goes dormant and needs cooler temps in the winter. I house mine in an un-heated out building during winter. I wish you success...but, that would be the first steps I would do...and hope for the best. If it is showing signs of needles being brittle...stop with the plant food. Until it shows signs of regaining health.

To be honest, I don't think that you recognized the plant as a hoya, manda. Your advice was just fine for a plant that doesn't have the particular growing characteristics of this plant. Hoyas grow in long, ropey vines. As a matter of fact, the flowering spurs they produce occur on more mature wood, all the more reason to refrain from cutting the new growth in order to produce more and more juvenile growth. What we don't know is under what kinds of lighting situation dinajean is growing this plant. Or how long she's had it, the type of potting medium it's in, and many other factors that might affect growth. All of which are more typically handled in the House Plant Forum. Yes, manda3, you can certainly keep your hoya pinched back so that it becomes bush-like. But most of us grow these plants for their flowers. Mine blooms about 9 months out of 12, with large (almost tennis ball size) and very fragrant florescences.

These plants like high humidity and shade. Take care to keep them out of direct sun and to keep the soil moist. They are more sensitive to hard water than other bromeliads.

These plants are tougher than Vriesea and Guzmania, and most can take some direct sun. Those with stiff, leathery leaves can take more sun than those with soft leaves. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.