Is this little guy salvageable?

[jseiter]

I have this spruce that's been growing well, until about a week ago, he started browning. I watered him yesterday, but I'm not sure if he's either not getting enough sun, water or if his pot is too big? Any advice would be appreciated. This is a first round starting a houseplant from a tree.

I currently water once a week when the soil dries out, and he's in a east facing window. I had it under a full spectrum led grow light, but recently just moved him to the window when he started to brown. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Looks like your on to what it could be. Those exact things were my first thoughts. Pot size, being inside and water based on soil and pot size. Anyway to keep it outside to start with?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

It looks like one healthy bud is left... tree needs to be outside. Slowly transition to outside and hope you have enough days left for the tree to prepare for winter.

I would watch watering carefully as well as winter care.

 

[Shibui]

Unfortunately your choice of species is not good for an indoor plant. Spruce, and most conifers, definitely do not do well indoors longer term. They appear to really need air movement, full sun spectrum and changes in seasons that are really hard to recreate indoors.

The browning occurring immediately after moving to a window may be coincidental but most likely sunburn. Plants that have not experienced direct sun with UV don't have any 'sunscreen' in the foliage. Just as our skin will burn quickly if suddenly exposed to direct sun, plants foliage also burns when moved from shade to sun.
Also, like our skin, exposure to direct sunlight can trigger development of sun protection factors in the foliage but it takes a few weeks to build up enough to be effective. Transitioning slowly from shade to sun over a 2-3 week period helps reduce sunburn.

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to reverse the sunburn. If your seedling has enough spare energy reserves it should put out new shoots from the living section. Those new shoots should have sun protection built in as they open in the sunnier area.
Good luck with the project. My advice is, if you want an indoor tree look for a ficus or some other tropical species. They are much better adapted to conditions inside our buildings.

 

[Paradox]

Ficus would be a much better choice for indoor bonsai