Design help

[Stanny]

I’m new to bonsai and I’ve figured out the front but been kinda stuck on the design of this juniper. I wonder if I should have the lower branches go lower. Any thoughts?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I would make this a cascade or a semi- cascade. It is up to you, my taste doesn't matter.

 

[Shibui]

One of the problems I see here is all trunks going in opposite directions which does not make much sense.
Cascade or semi makes some sense but probably only if you reduce to a single trunk or all trunks go in the same direction.

Not clear how thick those trunks are or how stiff.
Would it be possible to bend the thicker, left side? Being thicker it will probably look better as the more upright trunk but needs to bend toward the right to compliment the other 2 trunks. rather than trying to reverse that right angle bend I'd try twisting the lower section to change that angle without actually bending it.


Softening the right angle bend would also help - either by bending or change the viewing angle of the whole trunk.

If that left side cannot be bent enough. 2nd choice would be to move the right side trunk(s) toward the left to compliment the left movement of the thicker trunk - either both or reduce one to short jin and move the other one.

 

[Stanny]

One of the problems I see here is all trunks going in opposite directions which does not make much sense.
Cascade or semi makes some sense but probably only if you reduce to a single trunk or all trunks go in the same direction.

Not clear how thick those trunks are or how stiff.
Would it be possible to bend the thicker, left side? Being thicker it will probably look better as the more upright trunk but needs to bend toward the right to compliment the other 2 trunks. rather than trying to reverse that right angle bend I'd try twisting the lower section to change that angle without actually bending it.
View attachment 455730

Softening the right angle bend would also help - either by bending or change the viewing angle of the whole trunk.

If that left side cannot be bent enough. 2nd choice would be to move the right side trunk(s) toward the left to compliment the left movement of the thicker trunk - either both or reduce one to short jin and move the other one.
View attachment 455731

Great advice! Thank you! I think with effort I can have either side swap. She won’t be happy but I think I can get it to work

 

[AshleyMammal]

I reckon you could split this in two (I’m still a beginner so no expert) and get two small trees. I’ve done it in the past with a juniper and both sides survived, just try to get roots on both halves

 

[MeDupree]

I reckon you could split this in two (I’m still a beginner so no expert) and get two small trees. I’ve done it in the past with a juniper and both sides survived, just try to get roots on both halves

OP, have you cleaned up the roots before? It seems like there's two trees in the pot there.

A few of my little junipers (chinensis something or another) were that way when I got them this summer from the garden centers.

Don't ask me how many of those little "bonus" trees are still alive though...I went overboard with the experimentations since they were "extras".