Proper care for Picea Pungens in the pot in CA

Hello, everyone! 

Need a little advice... Just got a baby blue spruce (Picea Pungens) in a pot as live tree for Christmas.  Have little concern about proper care for it.  Bought it from Home Depot. It is near 20 in high and placed in 10 in plastic(diameter) pot. It looks OK for now,  even have slow release fertilizer all over. 

I do not have the opportunity to replant it in the garden,  I don't have a garden though... I live in apt with West side balcony in California(10a zone) on a coastline.  We newer have harsh hot or cold days here... Newer below 35F. And most of sunny days.  

But this plant is natural to Colorado and survives best in 2-7 zones. 

So I'm considering living it in a pot.  My questions:

- I will keep it on the balcony with at least  couple hours of direct sunlight. Should  I make some insulation for plastic pot? Is it necessary if we do not have harsh nights here? I am considering placing plastic pot inside bigger clay pot and fill the last one with insulation... 

-shoul I wait until all fertilizers granules disappeare before adding new? 

-should I worry about anything else? 

Thanks a lot! 

Last edited: 23 December 2016 19:49:58