Bark or die back?

[Scrogdor]

I’m not sure if this is bark or die back from the chop that was made to it. Bought this from eBay (mistake), going through my crazy newbie bonsai phase.

Back story on this JPM, it got soaked in a cardboard box during hurricane Ida and spent 8 days in transit/ developed some mildew. It’s just recovering at the moment, the wire is there to support a damaged branch that was hanging.

 

[DonovanC]

Die back starts at the tip. Are you referring to the base of the branch with wire? If so, that’s bark.

 

[Scrogdor]

Die back starts at the tip. Are you referring to the base of the branch with wire? If so, that’s bark.

Referring to the big chop at the top.

 

[ShadyStump]

Looks fine to me. If that chop was dying back those branches at the very top would also be dying back. If you're referring to the giant green spot compared to the grayish around it, they are both bark. Just one is the soft juvenile sapling bark giving way to the more mature bark.

 

[Shibui]

JM bark changes from green or reddish to brown as it ages so the gray/brown section is likely to be bark maturing. If it has died back you cannot do anything about it so stop worrying. All will become clear in time whether you stress or not.