Ezo Spruce needle browning - advice please

[Rare plant Pat]

I have this beautiful Ezo from Mike S and I have just noticed the needles browning off as in the photos below. History of the tree so far:

Bought in Autumn 2018 - pinched in Spring 2018 - all the extensions by about 50%.
In February 2019 moved it from on top of bench to under for more shade while on holidays and put it on irrigation for two weeks (like all other trees). On return, found I'd lost a Larch sitting under the bench - it was way too wet. Several trees had developed a small amount of Algae on surface of mix, so concluded that irrigation was delivering too much water while away. All other trees thriving.
Back to hand watering.
Fertilized regularly with liquid feed and has osmocote as well.

Closer observations - 1. the needles are all three year old ones. 2. There are new shoots that have sprouted over Autumn - these are arrowed in Black in photos, so I think that it is responding positively to being off the irrigation 3. I have a large potted White Spruce - Piece glaucus as our Christmas tree and it is doing the same thing but wasn't on irrigation. 4. I suspect that my mix is to heavy (to much fine material) and will be adjusting it this year.

Can experienced Ezo growers comment on best growing conditions (I'm in Melbourne)? I have read that they like to be more or less constantly moist, but not wet. Is this true for you? Best time to repot? Do you use your basic mix or something altered?

[Rare plant Pat]

Just bumping this - all you Ezo specialists are so polite, but one of you needs to go first

[Robsterios]

To me, this looks normal.. lots of healthy buds on the extremities. Spruce will loose their inner needles naturally..

[Robsterios]

I have a bunch of Ezo's... love them, although they are a lot of work -wire/re-wire/wire etc..and they're bloody slow..!!
Mine are in a partly protected position, ie, some dappled afternoon light. They do love a good water and I do believe they don't like drying winds, even in the cooler months. Repot in Spring when the buds are swelling. I do give them a slightly deeper pot to prevent drying. My mix is a general mix with some pumice and small scoria. I always work mine, prune and wiring in Autumn.

[Rare plant Pat]

Thanks Robsterios,

I'm going to be treating mine like yours, but I knocked it out of the pot after posting the pics and noticed that the mix on the bottom was heavy and wet, - my own first try at mix that turned out to have too many fines, so I gently washed off the outer mix with a hose and slip potted with coarser mix - sand and scoria and pine bark - thankfully there were still nice white root tips - and it looks a lot happier now.

Thanks for your response