Juniper styling question (J. Squamata Blue Star)

[Thatguy85]

I collected this Juniper Squamata Blue Star in april this year, and was wondering whether I should remove the small left branch or the larger main branch on the right, from the branch on the left. I'm aiming for a literati style Juniper.
I realize that chopping the smaller branch is safer and maintains the flow of the trunk better, but chopping the right part might make for a more interesting look...
Any advice is welcome! (I hope the pic is clear enough though)

https://imgur.com/5NuX3C7

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

A slight, gentle taper is best for Literati.

The right is already there, so leaving the left will mean you'll need some time to bring the left trunk back into a good even taper.

In less than that amount of time, I think you'll be able to figure out how to make the right one look better than the left.

Sorce

 

[ponderingsage]

You also might let it sit for the season and see if one side dies off, depending on how many roots you recovered while collecting. I sometimes have some die back if l had to cut roots.

 

[PA_Penjing]

looks like good material to me. If I were you I would not be cutting anything off of the tree this season. Juniper are a little different than other trees, I usually let them build a head of steam before doing anything. To answer your question the branch I would remove would be the guy on the left (if I had to choose). The shape of this tree can be greatly changed by wire, so it's only your imagination limiting the design. But remember that wiring a tree that hasn't put out enough roots to be secure in the pot will wobble around and cause a lot of damage to the root system. So again, I would hold off until next fall to wire. The color on these things are great, I want one myself but haven't seen anything worth buying/collecting

 

[Thatguy85]

Thanks all! I won't touch it for a while, just let it grow stronger (btw I have 2 more, it was part of a 'clump' I gently ripped apart).

@ponderingsage: yeah when I lifted it from the ground it had very little roots and practically no soil left as it was very dry. I'm actually surprised all three survived.

 

[Paradox]

You might try wiring it down some this fall, which would make it look les awkward and fit more into the style you are going for