What should I do with a gifted precumbens

So a well meaning friend gifted me one of those terrible junipers in the ceramic pots with the rocks glued on top. The first thing I did was get rid of the rocks then put it in a sunny place as I can only assume that it came from a box store and has been under flourescent lights for months. Upon first inspection, it seems to still be alive with some fairly recent growth. I am still very much a novice at this. While I've had some success with ficus, I've never tackled a precumbens, or any juniper for that matter. Do I bother trying to save this poor tree? If so, what is my next step? Report with better soil and drainage? Put it into the ground? Trim and wire and hope for the best? I am in horticultural zone 7. Thanks for all your feedback.

Without a picture it is difficult to assess condition, if it is not doing well re potting is not a good idea, and it is the wrong time of year now. I think you would be best to put it in a sunny spot and keep it watered and see how it does this year. At least you have it outside and are not trying to keep it inside. If it starts growing then possibly next year you could look at re potting.

My concern is that the pot has zero drainage. I know that precumbens dislikes wet feet. Would it hurt to move it to another pot with drainage?

All bonsai should have drainage holes. Procumbens is no exception. Most pots can easily be drilled with a cheap diamond hole drill.

Thank you for your feedback. Am I to understand that your advice is to leave the material in its current pot and drill a drainage hole? Without removing the plant?

No you need a pot with holes about the same size.

Bob_Bear wrote:

Thank you for your feedback. Am I to understand that your advice is to leave the material in its current pot and drill a drainage hole? Without removing the plant?

I would take the tree out of the pot before drilling. However Geoffs sugestion to get a new pot is a possibility too. Just do not do any root work this time of the year.

Thank you for the suggestion. I will repot into a more suitable vessel with well draining soil and give it full sun and TLC until next season. What is the best time of year for root work/pruning/wiring for precumbens?

In Europe the conclusion is that late winter to early spring is the best time for repotting with root work and pruning big branches, but not at the same time. However those glue into pot mallsai are often just badly rooted cuttings. In most cases it is better to wait a wile for the roots to establish and fill the pot. I would suggest pruning come spring 2024 and wait for root work until earliest spring 2025. But I have yet not seen the tree in question.

Growth maintenance pruning and wiering can be done any time of the year.

Trying to upload photos of the tree in question. Having issues.