Separating dead part of bonsai

[Carmen]

I have a small serissa that came close to death last year when I repotted it into bonsai soil for the first time. I think my mistake was putting it back in direct sunlight immediately after repotting. It lost all its leaves but then half of it came back over the year. The other half is completely dead. I thought both parts were from the same roots but I'm now thinking it could be two separate trees? My question is, what should I do about the dead half? Should I take the whole thing out to separate the dead roots/plant part from the living part? Or should I just cut it if separating it would be too traumatic for the living plant?

 

[Dav4]

I would gently removed the surface soil to expose the base of that dead trunk, and either cut it flush with the living tree or cut it below soil level and deal with what ever roots remain at the next re-pot.

 

[rockm]

Cut it off where is clear delineation between the live part and the dead part. It’s dead and won’t hurt the living section

 

[Carmen]

I would gently removed the surface soil to expose the base of that dead trunk, and either cut it flush with the living tree or cut it below soil level and deal with what ever roots remain at the next re-pot.

Thank you!!!