I was givin this tree from a old bonsai friend, it looks ok but I don't think it's alive probably why he gave it to me! But I think it would make a good Literati, any thoughts. In one of the pictures I used my thumb nail to peel back a little bark. It's still technically winter time here.

Normally once they're brown, that's them done for. I would treat it as if it were alive until I was sure it was dead.
No need to worry about styling until it shows signs of life.

Ed

thank you

It has plenty of green foliage. Should be fine.

I tend to have bad luck with junipers

Travi51 wrote: I tend to have bad luck with junipers

Me too.
Then I discovered that my bad luck was simply bad care and understanding of junipers. (I'm not saying this about your luck, but mine!)

Clicio wrote:

Travi51 wrote: I tend to have bad luck with junipers

Me too.
Then I discovered that my bad luck was simply bad care and understanding of junipers. (I'm not saying this about your luck, but mine!)

Expand it. What did you do wrong and what did you change? Maybe we can learn as well

It could be. I was told not to put a juniper in akadama they don't like it so I need to find a substitute

Travi51 wrote: It could be. I was told not to put a juniper in akadama they don't like it so I need to find a substitute

Try crushed zeolite. I have an old juniper that does very well in it. I also use (not with junipers) calcnied diatomaceous earth. It is similar to akadama but does not break down easily

Thank you i will look it up