Nick said:
however, about a month ago, i found a really decent hive/collection
of
small clear mites nesting in its pot. as it turns out, they were
enthusiastically burrowing deep into the roots.

Mites are not communal. Did these things actually have 8 legs?
Were they very fast and lively? Did they..... hop?

I'm thinking they had six legs plus a forked tail, and were
springtails. Springtails do make little communal nests in rotting
organic material. They are white/transparent and can jump amazing
(relative to their size) distances. They are harmless, except they
signal that soil may be a little too moist.

Jim's advice about your tree was all on the mark, and pay special heed
to his advice not to water too much since the tree has so few leaves.
Water when the soil is barely moist an inch down. That will take care
of springtails.

Nina. If they aren't springtails, never mind.