Ryan, yes they seem to take quite a bit of water; but again, my only Crypto is in the ground. I've also read in Bonsai Today that they prefer a more organic soil. Articles for Crypto are in issues 7, 10, 29, 31, 47, 67, and 77.
As dwarfs go; this one has larger and softer foliage than some of the dwarfs I've seen at Brussel's (see attached photo), and looks like it would make a great chuhin-or-larger bonsai; specimen or forest.
The live foliage does not turn black; it's a VERY fresh color, but mine definitely hangs onto older, dead foliage inside. The bark is a little darker than the yamadori shown above.
I've done a little digging around on mine since this thread came up and it is really getting a nice trunk. It's a landscape plant now, and my wife loves it...but it might get promoted to the benches...someday