I live in NYC and I have a Viridian Japanese Maple which is potted on my patio. It gets direct morning light. It was very happy for the first couple of months and recently I noticed that bright green leaves under the canopy were turning color and shriveling and dying. I am afraid it might be under watered but I am also afraid to overwater it. What can I do. Thank you so much!

If there under the canopy it could just be lack of light. Do some pruning to bring light into the center of the tree. Good luck it's a nice tree

Too much sun scorching the leaves needs shade from afternoon sun.