I 'd agree with that @Paul B3 - far too small for the tops. You do have to check them each year to see how big the root system is, and pot on if they're filling the pot too much. A pot not too much bigger is always the method, and using a good growing medium is always helpful - they need moisture but decent drainage. The mix you're using could be a contributing factor as some composts dry out very rapidly, and some are the opposite, so that can affect watering. Large plants will always need more care in pots too, regardless of what they are, and it important to make sure they aren't rootbound or dry when planted. It can be very hard to rehydrate them when that happens. If the position of the two plants is how they've been, the other one is far more sheltered than the red one. As already said - that can make a huge difference. There does seem to be some foliage there though. Terracotta pots aren't usually as good as glazed, as they absorb water, so as Paul says, if you couple that with the watering, and any winds, that can be enough to make a difference in the health of the two plants.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks I will get new bigger pots! Both trees were originally in the same spot right next to each, where the red one is now. I moved the yellow one out of the way in case there was some disease that could spread, but i didn't want to move it too far as it's a good, sheltered spot anyway. They were repotted in these pots last summer after I bought them and they were easily double the size of the original pots so i went with the theory of bigger but not too much bigger. I would be repotting them in bigger pots anyway this year but this happened before i got chance. I was wondering if repotting now when it's looking upset, would make things worse??? Should i go for it or will that really kill it if i repot it again so soon after husband already repotted it a couple of weeks ago? The foliage you can see is the leaves that came out to begin with and drooped (they didn't dry out or go brown they just drooped) and most have dropped off but what you can see are not healthy leaves and no new growth.
Healthy leaves which then droop and die more often than not, not always. indicates lack of water. I have always kept my potted acers standing in a shallow saucer which I keep topped up. It is amazing how much water a growing tree can need.
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The mix you're using could be a contributing factor as some composts dry out very rapidly, and some are the opposite, so that can affect watering. Large plants will always need more care in pots too, regardless of what they are, and it important to make sure they aren't rootbound or dry when planted. It can be very hard to rehydrate them when that happens.
If the position of the two plants is how they've been, the other one is far more sheltered than the red one. As already said - that can make a huge difference. There does seem to be some foliage there though.
Terracotta pots aren't usually as good as glazed, as they absorb water, so as Paul says, if you couple that with the watering, and any winds, that can be enough to make a difference in the health of the two plants.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...