Help Identifying Juniper species and trunk question

[fluffhead]

Hello All - I am just starting out on my Bonsai path. In August, I went to the Midwest Bonsai Society Exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden and picked up what I was told is a 7-8 year old pre-Bonsai Juniper from a vendor. The wiring you can see in the photos below was already done. Aside from a little pruninghere and there, I haven't done much to the tree at the point other than try to learn how it best responds to watering/sunlight.

1) I am curious if anyone is able to identify the species of Juniper? The vendor just said Juniper and that's all the tag said as well.

2) As we approach colder weather, I am planning to do some additional wiring/re-wire the currently wired branches (very loosely wired). I would also like to get some more movement in the trunk, but it seems like this trunk might be past the point of training (as a novice anyway). Any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance. This forum has been a massive, massive help (and time suck!).

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

It's not a juniper. See the cones? They have pointy tips on the bottom, junipers don't have that.
Not sure which cypress families do, but it's not juniperus.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

This looks more like some sort of Thuja IMO.

 

[Shibui]

The photos attached are a good start to ID but we really need to see a good, clear shot of typical foliage to see whether shoots are opposite or alternate and how the shoots grow from the branches. In the one closer shot the camera has focussed on the foliage further away so hard to get a good enough look. As it has cones some clear close shots of those will also give great clues to genus and possibly species.

 

[fluffhead]

It's not a juniper. See the cones? They have pointy tips on the bottom, junipers don't have that.
Not sure which cypress families do, but it's not juniperus.

Interesting - I will look into cypress species' cone characteristics. Thanks!

 

[fluffhead]

This looks more like some sort of Thuja IMO.

Interestingly, the AI function of the iphone camera suggested Thuja as well.

 

[fluffhead]

The photos attached are a good start to ID but we really need to see a good, clear shot of typical foliage to see whether shoots are opposite or alternate and how the shoots grow from the branches. In the one closer shot the camera has focussed on the foliage further away so hard to get a good enough look. As it has cones some clear close shots of those will also give great clues to genus and possibly species.

When I get home this evening, I will take some close up shots of branches, foliage patters and the cones. Zooming in on my phone photos (zoomed in screenshots attached), it appears the shoots are alternating. Not sure what to make of the cones, but will look into it now.

 

[brentwood]

When I get home this evening, I will take some close up shots of branches, foliage patters and the cones. Zooming in on my phone photos (zoomed in screenshots attached), it appears the shoots are alternating. Not sure what to make of the cones, but will look into it now.

Look into pollen cones, maybe that's what you have


B

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

I'm pretty sure it is a Thuja occidentalis.

 

[fluffhead]

I'm pretty sure it is a Thuja occidentalis.

Yeah, it seems to be between Thuja occidentalis and a Hinoki Cypress. Thanks again. Here are a few more images.

 

[Shibui]

I think Hinoki has much more pronounced flat pads of foliage so I'd probably lean toward Thuja too.

 

[PonderingSage:]

Not a bad buy! The trunk base looks like it is pretty decent. And you could probably get some bends with the use of some guy wires.
…phish fan…?

 

[fluffhead]

Not a bad buy! The trunk base looks like it is pretty decent. And you could probably get some bends with the use of some guy wires.
…phish fan…?

I will be trying some guy wires for the first time I think, just have it wired now. And yes, massive phan!