New juniper tornulosa advice needed

[SFDrake]

Got this juniper today. Bought it at a local bonsai nursery for a decent price. Got some brown spots toward the trunk, but overall looks pretty healthy to me. Not sure where to go with it next (after I make sure its healthy. Any pointers, styling advice, or critique would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SFDrake]

Here's one of the trunk

 

[SFDrake]

Some discolored needles

 

[Gabler]

Here's one of the trunk

Your entire bonsai is in that photo, but don't chop it back hard all at once. Gradually chase it back.

 

[SFDrake]

Your entire bonsai is in that photo, but don't chop it back hard all at once. Gradually chase it back.

Iyo does it have any potential?

 

[SFDrake]

Should I start by removing some of the needles on the bottom of the branches

 

[Gabler]

Juniper is the silly putty of bonsai, so I think you can make it into a decent little tree. @Eric Schrader has a good video on how to style juniper, as well as other instructional videos on junipers. I recommend you start there. His YouTube channel and online store are both called Bonsaify.

 

[Gabler]

 

[Gabler]

Also check out "Growing Bonsai by Jelle." While you're at it.

 

[SFDrake]

Thanks, I've seen several of Jelle's videos, and I've seen him on here as well. Very helpful. I'll check out Eric's too

Also check out "Growing Bonsai by Jelle." While you're at it

Also check out "Growing Bonsai by Jelle." While you're at it.

 

[SFDrake]

Some better pics of the brown areas this morning. Should I be concerned?

 

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

The old Hollywood Juniper, Torulosa, no N, just makes it easier to search.

I always use google image search with bonsai in the search to see what others have come up with. There are lots of images you could use as inspiration,

Brown leaves look to me like a lack of sunlight, maybe they were spaces too close together or maybe its winter cold coloration, not sure where it came from.

Looks like a great starting point,

 

[SFDrake]

The old Hollywood Juniper, Torulosa, no N, just makes it easier to search.

I always use google image search with bonsai in the search to see what others have come up with. There are lots of images you could use as inspiration,

Brown leaves look to me like a lack of sunlight, maybe they were spaces too close together or maybe its winter cold coloration, not sure where it came from.

Looks like a great starting point,

Yeah not sure how to edit that , thanks for the clarification!

 

[SFDrake]

So there has been little growth since purchase. I've tried moving it, it's on a monthly fertilizer schedule with osmocote. Other junipers have already put out buds and new growth next to him, but he's being stubborn. I was really stressing about his roots and the possibility of overwatering, so I bit the bullet and did a late pot change. Took off the chunks of loose organic off the bottom and cleaned up the nebari but for the most part left roots alone. (Tap root looked to be chopped back already). Put in inorganic mix, gave it a healthy water last night, and put it in a shady spot protected from bad wind.

This is still my first season practicing bonsai, I'm very new and I'm making mistakes left and right, so any criticism would be greatly appreciated! Let me have it!

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I think you did the right thing getting out of that organic soil, but I would have removed more of the organic soil personally. Looks like you did a great job otherwise.