Tropfrog wrote: So I would say that there are a few years left to develop the style on a young tree.

I don't see how you think it's just not a clever thing to do. On young trees, you need lower branches that are already there.
Waiting for adventitious buds to develop at the right place - if ever - is not going to take just a few years.

Putting your time in that is a waste of time. You can get better material. Even a normal juniper, of which the lower branches have not been cut off to make it resemble a bonsai, is a much better choice - and it will cost far less.

I've never seen any backbudding on most of my junipers, young and old ones, communis, squamata and chinese. I have two junipers that does do backbudding, a Virginiana and a Sabina.

I really appreciate the discussion. However I dont understand how you think it can benefit the hobby by using Words like "stupid", "Silly", "not clever" etc. It might be a cultural thing. But in my opinion it is way to little zen in the discussion. And isnt that what we are striving for?

I dont understand why you got the impression that I say it is better to use materials without lower branches.

What I want to say is that if the tree is surviving it is worth working on it. There are a slim chanse that it Will become a fairly good tree if it survives. Called bonsai or not, by experts or novices. As long as the owner enjoy the process. If the owner gets tired of the tree it can allians be passed on to other beginners. There are so much more about the hobby than striving for a enda result. For me the process iand a vision is more important than the finalized show tree.

As a beginner you really need to learn a lot about care, substrate, the process etc. It is better to kill a few Sheep trees meanwhile than bying your dream material for 1000nds of dollars and killing it.

Yes, it is a fraud to sell cuttings in shallow pots as bonsai. But the damage is already done. That is The first lesson learned. But there are so many more things to learn. Training on the material makes no harm att all and maybe there are more things to learn meanwhile. Waste of time? Not if you enjoy the process.

Br
Magnus

Sorry for the bad spelling. English is not my main language and sometimes the autocorrect shoose a first language Word close to my native language.
Is there any way to Edit a post? I cannot find that function.

Br
Magnus