Chinese Juniper first pruning, cutting back too much? Also styling advices needed

[zizz]

Hello! I'm pretty new to bonsai and after my JBP died, I did more research on proper care, and went grabbed some more, including this chinese juniper, along with chinese elm and larch.

Today I decided to give it a good clean up as it's pretty overgrown (first image), it's my first time to actually practice big pruning like this, other than a bit of a clip on the elm.

Here are my questions:
1. Am I cutting off too much foliage? I know many people say do not cut off more than 50% of the overall mass, so I'm a bit concerned.
2. Is it the right move to leave the remaining foliages long like this? I'm a bit scared to cut it back further, and maybe leave it that way will thicken the branches a bit overtime?
3. How to move forward in terms of styling, initially I was thinking going towards cascade or semi cascade, but after pruning, I'm not really sure anymore. I do have aluminum wires in different thicknesses, but I'm trying to get an idea first before wiring it up.

Please share your thoughts, thanks for reading.

 

[Brain Treez]

Check out Bonsaify's many videos on junipers. I found this one particularly helpful when I was just starting out:

The nice thing about junipers is that as long as you can find an interesting trunk line in there, you can always develop more branches in time.

 

[zizz]

Check out Bonsaify's many videos on junipers. I found this one particularly helpful when I was just starting out:

The nice thing about junipers is that as long as you can find an interesting trunk line in there, you can always develop more branches in time.

Thanks! I did watch many of his videos, super helpful, along with Tony's and Growing Bonsai by Jelle.
Any thoughts on how bad I screwed up in terms of cutting too much foliage off?

 

[e~b]

I'm sure that more experienced members will jump in (maybe Jelle himself - @leatherback ), but here is a beginner's take:

I think you removed an appropriate amount of foliage, assuming you can properly care for the tree in the meantime. The better question is whether you pruned the 'correct' foliage. It looks like you pruned from the inside and worked outwards, leaving only the thickest branches and foliage at the tips. This creates the "pom pom" look that we usually try to avoid. I'd try to leave some interior branching/foliage and instead prune from the outside in.

 

[zizz]

I'm sure that more experienced members will jump in (maybe Jelle himself - @leatherback ), but here is a beginner's take:

I think you removed an appropriate amount of foliage, assuming you can properly care for the tree in the meantime. The better question is whether you pruned the 'correct' foliage. It looks like you pruned from the inside and worked outwards, leaving only the thickest branches and foliage at the tips. This creates the "pom pom" look that we usually try to avoid. I'd try to leave some interior branching/foliage and instead prune from the outside in.

Hi thanks for the reply!
I worked my way up the tree, as there were a lot of branches growing inwards and overly thick, so I thought keeping them there won't do any good. I do think the mistake I had was to remove back buddings on the tree, there were some on the main braches and I took off some of them, which is sadly a bad move...

 

[Japonicus]

I think you removed an appropriate amount of foliage, assuming you can properly care for the tree in the meantime. The better question is whether you pruned the 'correct' foliage. It looks like you pruned from the inside and worked outwards,

Agreed

However keeping the natural apical leader is crucial at this time. The rest of the branches are fair game to consider for working inwards unless a repot is next consideration in the development.

@zizz some of the "oversized branches" you said you removed should've been considered for future new trunk. Not that they'd ever been used that way, but considered for. Also considered for jinning rather than flush shoulder cut.

At this point i would just fertilise well including fish emulsion which juniper responds well to, and bring it back to previous amount of foliage then procede. It should be ready to wire in Autumn then clean underneath the branches any downwards growing foliage. I think it will be just fine as you learn to care for it.