the tree is fine for a semi cascade style if you just cut the lowest and left branch in the photo off.

bob wrote: the tree is fine for a semi cascade style if you just cut the lowest and left branch in the photo off.

For the species: absolutely. For the twig: no.

yes

it is not the exact species or genus of the juniper, but it is young and has been styled.

the juniper in the picture above also has a very similar growth habit.

bob wrote: it is not the exact species or genus of the juniper, but it is young and has been styled.

Yes... another twig. What's your point ?

the reason it has not been styled by a human is because it does not need to be styled due to the growth habit. bonsai trees do not have to be tampered with to be bonsai trees, as long as they look like a larger tree, but smaller.

bob wrote: the reason it has not been styled by a human is because it does not need to be styled due to the growth habit.

I think you need to re-read this topic as hit HAS been styled:
4. When I changed the soil I wired in the tree based on observing my YouTube videos.

bonsai trees do not have to be tampered with to be bonsai trees, as long as they look like a larger tree, but smaller.

Well, this little juniper DOESN'T look like a larger tree. It looks like a 3 year old juniper.

Your statement makes no sense. 'bonsai trees do not have to be tampered with to be bonsai trees'. What is the meaning of that sentence? Bonsai trees are bonsai trees when they are bonsai trees... and they have become bonsai trees some way.
I guess you are trying to say that 'Trees do not have to be tampered with to become bonsai'. That too isn't true, unless when you mean dwarf species. In that case we're not talking about bonsai, but about... dwarf species.

If you meant to say that ordinary trees do not have to be tampered with as long as they look like larger trees, then that's contradictory. A tree of a certain height looks like a tree of a certain height, and not like a larger tree. It will look like a larger tree... when it becomes larger.

Mature trees look much different then young ones. There's a difference in trunk size, tapering, bark, position of branches, number of branches, position of the leaves... to make a tree look more aged then it is, it will be tampered with (either by a human using bonsai techniques, or by nature).

Hmm, I am not sure I can agree with that. Trees are not interfered with they are styled in such a way as to appear natural. I have yet to see a tree that is so good that it can be untouched and said to be bonsai. The tree is going to have to be pruned otherwise it will not fit into a pot for instance. The plant in the picture is a young plant that is semi cascade but unrefined and in need of styling. From a distance it might look reasonable, but I bet close up it has many faults.

yes, i did misread the topic/first post, and yes, you do have to prune it (i miss looked that as well) but it does look like an older, larger tree if you expand it in all directions. and you can actually get naturally stunted trees or shrubs in the wild, therefore it will have a thick trunk tapering, bark, and neatly arranged branches.