Hi everyone!
I have never owned a bonsai before.
I bought this tree from a stand on the side of the road 6 weeks ago. As far as I can tell, it is some kind of Juniper.
There are spots where leaves are yellow/brown. I am attributing this to the fact that I was advised to keep it indoors from the person who sold it to me, before I learned from this website that it has to live outside. It has now been outside for around 2 weeks. It gets lots of sun in the morning and evening. It is a dry climate here, with highs of 100 degrees. I spray the tree a handful of times a day so the heat does not hurt it.
The man I bought it from fertilized it with a cheap fertilizer the day I bought it. I feel like it needs to be fertilized by now. So, I am wondering if this container would be an issue for using solid fertilizer. Should I just use a liquid fertilizer?
Also, is this green protrusion new growth or should I be worried?
Thank you to anyone who can help or share any insight about my situation.

the yellow needles are normal most needles from last year will yellow and drop off as they mature. my junipers are currently outside were its been over 100*F and are doing just fine so yes placing it outside was smart. the pot to me looks like it would be an issue for future repoting purposes. i dont see how you would be able to slip out the tree without having to disturb the roots a lot and risk major damage or breaking the pot.

I was thinking the same thing about the pot. I am not worried about keeping the pot intact. I'd rather break it to get my tree out.
Is it too early to find a new container for the tree? Do you think dealing with the pot now is smarter than later on?

The yellowing tips are an issue. However, this really has got nothing to do with bonsa. It is just a very young juniper in a teapot.

So, what do you suggest that I do with the tree, Auk?
Repot it?

Periwinkleovercoats wrote: So, what do you suggest that I do with the tree, Auk?
Repot it?

If it was mine I would break the pot and plant it in my garden for the next decade.

Could I just plant it in a bigger container for another year or so until its worth trying to do Bonsai with?

Two comments. The pictures don't show the bottoms of the pot. Of there aren't any drain holes break the pot immediately and put it in any pot that has drainage.

In hot climates with lots of sun the pot gets very hot with the sun shining on it for long periods and the edges of the soil can get very hot and very dry. This is where the rootlets accumulate, and that can be fatal for them. The needles will tell you very quickly if they are getting too much sun. The roots will die without much signal. Watering lowers the temperature briefly, but you may need to shade the pot as well as the tree, if the pot feels hot to the touch.

I lost a couple of trees that way, I think. Wilting leaves in moist soil were sort of a giveaway.

The pot has a hole at the bottom. There’s drainage. I should have attached a photo of that.
The pot doesn’t get hot in the manner you’re referring to. When the day is the hottest, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, the tree has shade.
Not to worry!

Keeping it inside is an issue. Do not it will die. My Junipers are in full sun it has been 31 C plus and they love it.