Gray guardian

[Rod]

I got this from a big box store got it home and removed top soil to roots. I thought at first that the trunk was split, but come to find out it is two growing in one pot. Not sure what to do, do I leave them in my the same pot. Separate them? Add a few more junipers and make a forest.

 

[ShadyStump]

Always fun when you find something like that.
If it were me, I'd wait until an appropriate time to repot, and then separate them. If you want a forest, they'd make a really big one, and aren't of the structure usually suited to forests.
I don't know what your skill level is, but if you're fairly new to bonsai, it's nice to have a backup tree in case something goes wrong with the other. You can always plant them back together in the future if you decide to.

 

[Srt8madness]

I've found that almost all box store gallon juniper procumbs have two plants in there. My guess is that they double up cuttings to assure one will survive, and/or two plants makes for a bushier plant sooner, allowing for a higher resale price earlier in development.

 

[sorce]

I'd leave it.

Welcome to Crazy!

Focus on slow compaction.

The left's 4 "trunks" and the right's 2 is a styling difficulty.

Sorce

 

[Rod]

Another question, what would happen if I zip tied the trunks together to form a larger trunk, would I have to remove Romany branches?

 

[Rod]

I'd leave it.

Welcome to Crazy!

Focus on slow compaction.

The left's 4 "trunks" and the right's 2 is a styling difficulty.

Sorce

That’s another problem should I remove one of the 4 so there are an odd number and which one?

 

[sorce]

That’s another problem should I remove one of the 4 so there are an odd number and which one?

I don't consider the 4 as much as a problem as the wire in the way of possible crotch branches forming, which is what I would aim for to compact it to.

But I'm big on this....using new fresh growth that you can be in total control of, rather than growing them out using what's there as most folks prefer.

Truth truth though....

I think you can find better material.

Menards is only one step up the "bougie" ladder, as compared to Lowes or other places that sell good yard material....

Home Depot, or better, Walmart, tend to have the really cheap ratty stuff better suited to our endeavors.

Never buy Monrovia plants. They're the worst cuz they're the "best".

Sorce

 

[penumbra]

or two plants makes for a bushier plant sooner, allowing for a higher resale price earlier in development.

That is precisely right.

 

[James W.]

I have one exactly like that, same grower (Garden Debut) and everything. Last year I took some cuttings off it and they did OK. This year I am planning on taking a bunch of cuttings in February and then prying it apart into two plants in March.
I don't think the two plants will fuse very well if you tie them together. You will always be unhappy to have two trees growing too close together. I think you should either cut one tree off as low as possible leaving the one with more potential or rip them apart next late winter/early spring and have two trees. Either way, you will need to pick a trunk line and eliminate superfluous branches but that can be done in a year or two if you choose to split them.
These are quite vigorous (for me) and can recover from a lot of working.
Keep us posted!