Bill,

Sounds like the tree has dried out with resulting damage to the leaves. Long
wet spells followed by extreme sun and strong wind are likely to cause the
symptoms you describe. This is especially true with a soil that drains as well
as yours. Part of the problem may be that we think the tree is getting more
water than it is during rainy periods. A full canopy on a trident can shed
most of the rainfall outside of the pot when the rain is light. The pot will
appear fully watered but may not have enough water content to sustain a sunny,
windy day immediately following.


Julian R. Adams
Adams' Bonsai
Lynchburg, VA