What type of containers are the others in?
I don't feel like the soils+time are different enough to be the cause of that tree remaining too wet and/or arguably, "unhealthy".
For the record, I don't believe it's leaves or lack of is a sign of much anything but a subtropical tree, acting rather subtropically, in a rather sub tropic area.
I do believe Plastic, regardless of drainage, doesn't have the ability to provide a good long term root situation in your area, likely regardless of soil type.
Even vitrified clay has imperfections that break up the surface tension of water and allows it to continue to move down towards the drain, or better, air, which allows it to evaporate.
This is also why the inside of pots tend not to be glazed.
This is kinda also why anything that we build meant to float has a smooth surface.
Sorce