Douglas Fir Yamadori (notes)
r/Bonsai (ZenBonsai from Vancouver Island)
First, Doug fir aren't easy to collect. A tree like this will be in total shock from collection, and now that spring is here, the tree is in panic mode and it is not uncommon for it to be adjusting it's water/sugar pathways and that's the time it will decide to drop branches and empower others.
Proper anchoring of a bonsai to the container is a critical step. Your double trunk loose aluminum wire to box is not at all sufficient. You want to use tight galvanized steel (or thicker gauge aluminum) through the bottom of the pot like a regular bonsai. The tree needs to be super secure for roots to develop properly
It also looks like you changed grow boxes, which is a big no no. That means you've repotted a newly harvested and stressed tree which has only added to more stress.
I don't think misting will help much, the best you can do is leave in in a place with morning /early afternoon sun and mid to evening shade. Post potting up it should have been left to dry out for about 10 days as the newly harvested roots callused, then watering as needed. Keeping cut roots wet without callous can easily cause root rot.
r/Bonsai from Serentropic of Oregon (8b)
If that box is mostly roots, I would probably taper off misting. Especially if it has escape roots.
If no roots are poking out the bottom, and you have access to a heat bed, I've found heat beds to be pretty powerful for root recovery.
I've had weaker and stressed Doug Fir drop needles this time of year. As long as it's not even across the tree I'd wager it's most likely fine. The biggest problems I've had came from over reacting - I wouldn't change too much too fast.
April—using warming maps, avoiding under/over watering. Still browning all over. Will give it a few weeks more.