Juniperus chinensis - gold lace

[WHB123]

I bought a gold lace Juniperus chinensis today. There are 2 main stems which I am not sure if they are separate or growing from the same roots. My thought is that each stem (if I keep both) could be a semi cascading style parallel to each other but leaning opposite ways. I can’t tell that the tree has put on a good bit of new growth this spring.

Should I wait for later in the summer before I prune and repot? I am in South Georgia so it is already summer here.

Any comments about my thought process and tips anyone can share are greatly appreciated.

 

[WHB123]

All my pictures didn’t upload but I’m going to try and attach them here. I tired to take a video but it was too large to upload

 

[Shibui]

I can't make out where the 2 stems come out of the ground but it is quite common for commercial plants to have 2 stems. Some growers put 2 small plants in each pot because they can get a marketable product quicker. Sometimes the little trees are potted up deep in the pot and the trunks buried which means you see several stems coming out of the soil.
The way to tell is to dig gently down around the trunk to see how far the stems go before either joining together or having roots.
Junipers grow new roots from the stems very easily which means if it is a single tree planted deep there's probably already lots of new roots growing just below the soil surface. Smaller roots can often be trimmed off to expose the stronger roots below. Roots usually thicken the trunk so you may find the trunk has inverse taper below the new roots, in which case removing those upper roots is probably not such a good idea.

My thought is that each stem (if I keep both) could be a semi cascading style parallel to each other but leaning opposite ways.

If I understand your meaning that's probably not such a good bonsai style. Bonsai styles are based on natural tree growth. Try to think what would case a tree to grow as a semi-cascade in nature. Usually that's harsh environmental factors. Things like constant strong winds or no light on one side (maybe a cliff or canyon). Under those conditions the trees almost always grow in one direction only. We rarely see trees growing flat in different directions, except in gardens.
2 cascade trunks growing in the same direction would look natural. Growing in opposite directions doesn't look so good.

 

[WHB123]

I can't make out where the 2 stems come out of the ground but it is quite common for commercial plants to have 2 stems. Some growers put 2 small plants in each pot because they can get a marketable product quicker. Sometimes the little trees are potted up deep in the pot and the trunks buried which means you see several stems coming out of the soil.
The way to tell is to dig gently down around the trunk to see how far the stems go before either joining together or having roots.
Junipers grow new roots from the stems very easily which means if it is a single tree planted deep there's probably already lots of new roots growing just below the soil surface. Smaller roots can often be trimmed off to expose the stronger roots below. Roots usually thicken the trunk so you may find the trunk has inverse taper below the new roots, in which case removing those upper roots is probably not such a good idea.


If I understand your meaning that's probably not such a good bonsai style. Bonsai styles are based on natural tree growth. Try to think what would case a tree to grow as a semi-cascade in nature. Usually that's harsh environmental factors. Things like constant strong winds or no light on one side (maybe a cliff or canyon). Under those conditions the trees almost always grow in one direction only. We rarely see trees growing flat in different directions, except in gardens.
2 cascade trunks growing in the same direction would look natural. Growing in opposite directions doesn't look so good.

I did realize it would look unnatural but thought it might look cool, if I can’t coax one to go the same way as the other would it be possibly for me to just cut one to get rid of it to get a more natural look? Also is there a certain time I should start pruning and digging around to expose some roots? Is doing that in the summer a bad idea?

 

[Shibui]

I did realize it would look unnatural but thought it might look cool,

Do what makes you happy. If you think opposite direction trunks is good then go ahead and try it. You may cop some criticism from the Bonsai Police but if you are committed to doing it your way that shouldn't matter.
No problem to chop and remove one of the trunks any time of year.
If you've tried and found you don't like the look it is very easy to chop later.

Also no problem to removing some surface soil to see where the roots are at. That can be done any time of year. Any tree can cope with losing up to 10% of roots any time of year. That's actually happening all the time but we can't see it so don't understand the constant underground battle between plants and soil life - fungi infect roots, insects eat roots, digging animals cut through roots as they dig. Those things happen all year round but the plants still keep growing new roots to replace what's lost.
All that means we can dig around the trunk and even chop a few small roots any time of year without harm to the tree. Just don't go ripping the entire root ball apart in Summer.

Pruning can be done any time of year. Just be aware that junipers don't seem to like having too much foliage removed all at one time. 50% should be safe. Then let the tree recover for 3-6 months before attacking again.
Junipers can also be sensitive to bending while they are growing strongly in Spring. Strong bends can separate the bark from the wood and kill branches at that time of year. Doesn't always happen but enough to avoid Spring bending where possible. Any other time of year is usually OK.

 

[WHB123]

Do what makes you happy. If you think opposite direction trunks is good then go ahead and try it. You may cop some criticism from the Bonsai Police but if you are committed to doing it your way that shouldn't matter.
No problem to chop and remove one of the trunks any time of year.
If you've tried and found you don't like the look it is very easy to chop later.

Also no problem to removing some surface soil to see where the roots are at. That can be done any time of year. Any tree can cope with losing up to 10% of roots any time of year. That's actually happening all the time but we can't see it so don't understand the constant underground battle between plants and soil life - fungi infect roots, insects eat roots, digging animals cut through roots as they dig. Those things happen all year round but the plants still keep growing new roots to replace what's lost.
All that means we can dig around the trunk and even chop a few small roots any time of year without harm to the tree. Just don't go ripping the entire root ball apart in Summer.

Pruning can be done any time of year. Just be aware that junipers don't seem to like having too much foliage removed all at one time. 50% should be safe. Then let the tree recover for 3-6 months before attacking again.
Junipers can also be sensitive to bending while they are growing strongly in Spring. Strong bends can separate the bark from the wood and kill branches at that time of year. Doesn't always happen but enough to avoid Spring bending where possible. Any other time of year is usually OK.

Cut this much off, figured I should stop until I know what I’m doing. Dug down a little no big roots close to the surface. Considering doing an informal upright style.

Any thoughts?