[ID] Help this noob with ID and advice

[Philu]

Hi,

I asked for a bonsai for my birthday back in November 2015 and received this one (photos attached).
Now, I know bugger all about gardening in general, I have a few plants and trees outside that I've kept alive but I'm no green thumb.
My bonsai is a conifer (?) with needle-like foliage.
I have no idea what it is exactly, I'm guessing some kind of pine/spruce? Juniper? I'm not good at this.

What I've been doing is keeping it mainly indoors with a little sun, with a small watering each day (it drains well).
It has been outside when we've been away for long spells (e.g. over xmas break) in about 1/2 sun.
Over the last few weeks (since before we went away) it's started getting brown needles and it's getting worse.

I suspect it may need to be outside all the time? Maybe with more sun, and maybe it needs some food?

Please help identify my bonsai and tell me how to keep it alive and take better care of it.

Thankyou,

Philu the Noob.

[mountainman]

It's a juniper,and should be outside.Don't fertiliser at this time.Keep it in morning sun, but shade in the afternoon.Water daily at this stage,because it is dying.Do NOT put it inside the house,it is not a house plant.Where do tree's live? Outside of course.....

[dansai]

And when you water, give it a good soak so that water runs freely out the drainage holes.

[Philu]

It's a juniper,and should be outside.Don't fertiliser at this time.Keep it in morning sun, but shade in the afternoon.Water daily at this stage,because it is dying.Do NOT put it inside the house,it is not a house plant.Where do tree's live? Outside of course.....

OK will keep it outside all the time then, where I can see it from my window.
I thought many bonsai could be kept indoors? Certainly plenty of plants and trees can be. The house I grew up in had plants and even small trees throughout it inside.
Thanks for the help, much appreciated.

[Philu]

And when you water, give it a good soak so that water runs freely out the drainage holes.

Thanks, will do, it has really good drainage holes and sits about 1/2 inch off the ground so that's a plus.

[KIRKY]

If you especially want a bonsai for inside try something like a ficus. Otherwise they pretty much all belong outside. You can however have a few and interchange them, keeping them inside for a few days and then replacing them with another bonsai etc...
Not sure if anyone else has suggestions for inside varieties.
Cheers