I found this poor Key Lime here kinda local (45 miles away) and it looked fairly OK in the shop but I did not pull it from the pot and look over the roots etc... the POOR THING!!! I could tell the soil on top looked to be mostly peat.. and was damp.. I was worried there was going to be a mess when I repotted.. I got all my supplies together and began.. I pulled it out of it's pot to find that only the top half inch was damp.. the rest was bone dry and the roots that had made it to the edge of the pot were in sad sad shape.. I began to shake off the peat mix off.. and found a square mass of roots in the center of it all.. the "soil" in the center was entwined with a good bark mix.. but it had obviously gotten sorely root bound in that mix before potted up to the peat mix.. After seeing the bad condition of the roots I wonder how the poor thing was still alive at all.. I tried to unbind the roots a bit.. it was hard at they were mostly bone dry and a bit on the brittle side.. I probably should have soaked it for an hour or so before going on.. but it was late... I did the best I could put it in a pot about one size larger than it was in.. I saturated it.. waited.. and saturated it again.. and again.. and again.. I have had it only since Tuesday and it is already putting on new leaves!! looks like almost every branch has new leaf branch buds growing!!!
I was real worried that I had major damaged the roots but I guess not??? Since it is having new growth should I go ahead and give it fert with next watering?? I doubt it has had fert since it had been in the greenhouse it was in.. it is showing yellowing leaves..

All of their cactus looked super healthy.. and I'm sure they know lots about growing cactus.. Wish I has the $$ to go rescue the other trees.. I doubt the owners would come down on the price.. I might go back for the "dwarf Lime" $18(ok price) Don't recall what the price was on the "orange" but I don't want Meyer Lemons I can pick up including shipping twice the plant for half the price (including shipping) from Stan McKenzie. I about choked when I saw the price.. and the response to my shock was.. well.. we aren't in the big city where you can pick them up cheap.. NO DOUBT!!! I think they should stick to the cactus or learn what they are doing with every thing else.. poor banana trees were all dieing.. they blamed the heat.. but personally I suspect lack of water to be the culprit.. Irony of it all was.. it was raining cats and dogs out!!! I would recommend their cactus.. but would worry about any thing else.. they even had a cactus that smelled bad in bloom.. some cactus were taller than me!!! Stick to the cactus!!
I think I will go over and offer some advice.. I'd hate to see any more citrus suffering..
Any way.. sorry no pics of the repotting trauma.. but as soon as I get batteries (and a trip to the post office) tomorrow I will get pics of my new Key Lime posted.. will also post pics of ALL of my new babies!! Sunday at latest!!!

Gina *BabyBlue*

Here is how It looks after I potted it up and cut off all the dead stuff..

Back


Front




or is that front and back?? at any rate.. a bit on the lop sided.. I'm sure It will grow out of it.. It has new leaves budding out all over the place.. it is SOOO happy!!!

I thought for sure that with as rough as I had to get with the roots that there would be leaf drop etc..

I'm still wondering if I should wait a week or two before feeding??? The leaves don't look too bad.. surprisingly healthy for the condition it was potted and living in..

Gina *BabyBlue*

Gina:
Glad to see you rescued one. It looks so nice and pretty.

Good job, doesn't it make you feel good when you do that! Pretty little tree!

Ok.. So I had to go back.. and I'm glad I did.. I did not pay for this lime but I purchased another (that was in MUCH better condition) that I gave to a friend (trying to increase the citrus addict population local so I can have others to go to CAA meetings with.. ) I did take a clipping from the other "dwarf lime" incase this doesn't make it..



It didn't look THIS bad last week... I did get a chance to discuss "proper" citrus care with the owner.. Maybe things will improve for the remaining 4 plants..
I think I can pull it off.. But like I said.. incase I got a healthy cutting from the other dwarf lime that I gave to my friend.. I have been having exceptionally good luck with rooting cuttings.. If the cutting and the little plant make it I will have a lime to trade!!!

Anyway.. thanks for the well wishes and interest in my rescue operation!!!

Gina *BabyBlue*