Hi Gingervenus, please if you must buy a bargin at K-Mart be prepared for a possible failure of the plant. If you are a new gardener please buy a good healthy plant from a reputable Nursery that gives good advice, because they want you to succeed at growing plants because they want you to come back and buy another plant.
Conifers are prone to many different fugal complaints, we have many conifer dying in our local area they turn colour and just die. Good luck. Peter. R

would your last name be harper?
i lost a conifer about a month ago for no apparent reason (theyr'e not very strong) i think they like to completely dry out before waterig again but dont hold me to that .
the one i lost died off from the tips back untill it was just a brown stick , apparently that indicates to much water.
good luck
carp

An aboriculturalist who came to look at my sick conifers (spartan junipers) told me that conifers are twice as sensitive to things as regular trees e.g. only fertilize or treat at 1/2 strength. Additionally, they get most of their water from their surface roots so they like frequent, but not necessarily deep watering. Generally, however he said that conifers are very hardy plants and don't get many diseases etc. If you are considering a treatment e.g. fungicide or insecticide then remember to only apply at 1/2 strength. Good luck..

A friend of mine brought healthy potted conifers to the coast and they started going sad. She melted a teaspoon of vegemite in water and put it on them. Told me it was an old remedy. Don't understand the logic at all, but her conifers are looking great again.