Did I receive sick trees?

[BonsaiManic]

My wife. She loves me, and she gets me. She is completely indifferent to bonsai, but because she loves me, she supports my hobby.
As a surprise, she ordered these 3 juniper from 9 Green Box out of Chino, California. I don't know much about them at all. But the following pictures are of the material I just unboxed. The healthiest one has the least foliage, the least healthy has the most foliage. (A correlation, maybe?) I don't know which species they are (shimps would be awesome!), but I am hoping someone can help me determine if I need to take any action for fungus, or if my hot, dry climate is enough. I have no plans for repotting, slip potting, styling, etc. I will repot into a legitimate bonsai substrate this winter, but no plans until then. They are in 4" pots.
Also, I apologize for photo quality, but I hope it's clear enough to get a diagnosis.

 

[BonsaiManic]

If I'm being paranoid for no reason, be blunt. If I can't handle a little critiquing, I shouldn't be here. I'm here to learn, and I can't correct what I'm doing wrong if I don't listen to advice from you who have more knowledge and experience.

 

[coachspinks]

To me they look like procumbens. Any issues I see are likely from packaging but they don't look sick. The one brown branch looks like it broke off but I see a lot of new growth on them.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Yep, procumbens and they look normal for being stuffed in a box and hauled halfway across the country.

 

[BonsaiManic]

That's kind of what I was thinking, but just wanted to be aware if I needed to take action. Thank you both.

 

[Matt3839]

Two things I noticed and maybe you want to take a closer look and inspect them for pests? I’m dealing with juniper scale right now on my procumbens nana. Somewhat similar to the first photo. Also the webbing and small black stuff near the dead foliage looks questionable, circled in second photo.

I’m no expert and maybe it’s nothing to worry about but just wanted to point it out in case you missed it and want to inspect a little closer.

 

[BonsaiManic]

Also the webbing and small black stuff near the dead foliage looks questionable, circled in second photo.

Those were the same things I was asking about. I think it's a fungus, probably because the warm, humid conditions inside the shipping box were perfect for it to take off. But now they are in the hot, dry air of the Chihuahua Desert, so the fungus will probably succumb to the environment. Good eye, though. As I pointed out, my phone doesn't take very good macro photos.

 

[Paradox]

Two things I noticed and maybe you want to take a closer look and inspect them for pests? I’m dealing with juniper scale right now on my procumbens nana. Somewhat similar to the first photo. Also the webbing and small black stuff near the dead foliage looks questionable, circled in second photo.

I’m no expert and maybe it’s nothing to worry about but just wanted to point it out in case you missed it and want to inspect a little closer.

The webbing could be indicative of spider mites. Take a white sheet of paper and hold it under the branch and shake it. Look at the paper. I you see tiny little things running around the paper, rub your finger over it along the paper. Little red and brown streaks are probably spider mites. Get something that handles mites, not all insecticides do.

Also cut off the dead foliage/ branch. It won't turn green again

 

[BonsaiManic]

I should have thought of spider mites! The webbing is an obvious symptom, thank you, I'll check it after work. I know the brown won't green up, just wanted it in the photo for best information to get the best advice/suggestions.
This is why I came to BNut, and why I stay.

 

[BonsaiManic]

After some investigation and rummaging through reviews, it is most likely J. procumbens nana.

 

[Betula1]

Also keep a close eye out for Juniper scale as it can multiply rapidly and is so small its often overlooked till its already caused severe damage.
It would be prudent to quarantine these new trees well away from your existing trees just in case and until youre sure they are pest free.

https://extension.psu.edu/juniper-and-minute-cypress-scales.

 

[BonsaiManic]

Good stuff! I was relieved to see no spider mites. My three other junipers are well away from these. I will check for scale this evening.
I would think that an Amazon seller (9GreenBox) would have processes in place to ensure they aren't sending out plants with pests/disease, but, as I didn't research them beforehand, it's possible.

These trees aren't potbound, but the roots are visible at the edges of the root ball, so I don't think it will hurt them to wait until winter to repot. Overall they don't seem in too bad a shape, considering they were picked up from Chino, California July 18 and delivered to the Chihuahua Desert July 30. Eleven days in a hot, humid, dark box is kind of a long time, no?