Hello!
Very new to Bonsai and last week a bought a 3yr old Juniper in the greater Seattle area as a gift to my wife after our daughter was born. I have had it a week now and it seems the yellow I never noticed at purchase may have grown. I have watered it every 2 to 3 days, it has slow release fertilizer, and it receives a couple hours of direct sunlight a day. It is outside on our balcony. Attached is both a picture from the day of purchase and today. Is my tree dying? Thanks for any help!

When you say you’re watering it every 2-3 days, do you mean you’re doing this to a schedule or that this seems to be when the soil is drying out and therefore needs watering.?

It does not look that bad as long as it is outside and not in. It is not a particularly good plant to start with, but you can cut the yellowing bits off.

When the soil gets dry, as far as I can tell.

If the yellowing is ooccruing on the inside of the plant, and the growing tips remain green, do not orry; Old leaves (in this cae, the needles) die off after a while. Typically you get one flush of yellowing each year when the old needles are rejected by the tree.

The tree does not look too bad. Do you know what substrate is in the pot? If it is this all over you need to ensure you give loads of water each time you water. So if you have a showerhead for your watering can, use that, and make sure you cover the whole pot. Then water till it runs out at the bottom. And indeed, then wait for the pot to start to dry out before you do this again. How much / often have you given fertiliser?

That is good news. I don't know what substrate but I have the slow release pebble fertilizer on top of the soil.