walker8476 wrote: What about a starter

I think that is overpriced.

I see. I'll probably try leaving it in the pot and try shaping this year then. Thanks for your advice.

Are the plants with the starter kits designed to be pruned, wired and transferred to a bonsai pot straight away? Or is it a longer process as well?

I found this starter:

bonsaishop.com.au/shop/bonsai-for-sale-a...ta-large-bonsai-tree

I emailed them and they said it's ready to be wired, pruned and planted into a bonsai pot. Doesn't look any different from the juniper picture I posted previously.

Oh, stop it, please.

Of course they will tell you that. They want to make money.
Let me repeat: there is NO way to create an instant bonsai. It takes time. Think decades.

Yeah, I guess that's the reason for my original post. I was wondering how a Juniper can survive so much pruning of foliage and roots and still survive. I think I might prune one lightly to get a rough shape and leave it in the pot to recover. Then maybe think about re-potting in about a year.

Sorry for my stupid questions

walker8476 wrote: I was wondering how a Juniper can survive so much pruning of foliage and roots and still survive

If you hang around long enough on this forum, you will find that a very great part of posts is about people that ask how to revive their dying or even dead tree. Reasons are improper care, a wrong environment and doing too much, too soon to a tree. We all have killed trees - and all learned that our first concern needs to be keeping a tree alive. Can't do much with a dead tree.

You are not asking stupid questions. You are thinking ahead. That's good.

I think I might prune one lightly to get a rough shape and leave it in the pot to recover. Then maybe think about re-potting in about a year.

Excellent. I think you're on the right track now.