I went to HD to buy some omoscote and decided to browse through the citrus. I found just one Mexican lime dwarf tree. It is the most pathetic, neglected, malnurished, Charlie Brown tree I've seen in a store. I bought it!!!!!!! It was stuck all the way behind the other trees and completely engulfed by them. It looks over watered, under watered, with little sun and the leaves have almost no life in them. I repotted it and the stake was rotted and broken. I will take a picture to show you guys. It was probably a stupid purchase, but it's my rehab project.

i have seen citrus in poor shape @ stores myself. i have not yet bought one, if i ever do i well ask for a discount for a tree that in in bad shape. even though i think i can bring it back. a discount would be nice.

At Lowes I got 5 trees in bad shape for 3.00 dollars each but lost two but not a bad deal

This thing is dropping leaves like crazy!

probably was badly watered--either over or underwatering can cause that.

I would have to say that your little tree looks much better than my Cara Cara Navel tree....LOL...Good Luck. Tim.

That doesn't look so bad. I have a couple trees that lost most of their leaves over the winter that look far worse than that, and they are still alive and shooting new growth.

Can someone have another look at the photos? The pot said Mexican Lime, although I noticed no thorns at purchase, it looked like they had been cut or shaved off. The tree has stablize, but no new growth has started and I'm wondering if this is truly a Mexican or Key lime tree.

Looking at the blunt pointed leaves, and the slender willowy branches, it certainly looks like a Mexican Lime. - Millet (1,270-)

I think the tree will survive with proper care. There is a thornless Mexican Lime, so a lack of thorns does not necessary mean it is not a Key Lime; it could be a thornless cultivar.

Ned

The leaf drop has stopped. It had very few good roots left when I potted it and I cut off all the dead ones, leaving fresh root of even 2/12 length left. I gave extra support and it seems to be adjusting. I just have no leaf growth to know for sure. I hope it is a thorned Mexican, since that is the traditional type.

I went on a rescue mission last November. Walmart had citrus for $12.50, and they were the sorriest looking things. Poor babies were in those 4" x 12" plastic containers, and barely had leaves, and you could tell they were rarely watered. We bought 4. One Improved Meyer Lemon, One Valencia Orange, One Ruby Red Grapefruit, and one Bearss Lime.

We put two in containers, and two in the ground. It took some time for them to recover, but they have doubled their size in girth and height. They seem very happy to be away from Walmart! Me too!! Avoid that place like the plague!

Good luck with your rescue!!
Suzi