Hmmm, sounds like a dynamic kinda situation with new growth coming and going. Very taxing on the tree I am sure.

I assume a potted tree based on location. 8 years is a long time to have a tree, so you must be doing something right :) Anything new or changed with how you have been caring for it? What is it planted in, and when was the last time it was repotted?

no real change. The tree gets new soil every now and then, but it hasn't been repotted for 3 years. It is in a plastic pot about a five gallon or so.

Have you slipped it out of the container to look at the roots?

It certainly sounds like that the tree roots are intermittently getting what they need and then getting killed off somehow. Inconsistent/insufficient water penetration to the rootball due to tight roots, or soil compaction issues come to mind.

HTH.

8 years old? in 5 gallon pot?
My first thought is you have no more soil left in that pot thus, no nutrients, no fertilizer no nothing gets going to the leaves. No wonder it is dying on you.
If that is my tree I will do some drastic change to invigorate that tree. Otherwise you will lose it completely.
I only started buying and taking care of citrus in 2002 and most of them outgrew wine barrel pots so I transferred them to the ground. One of them is over 12 feet in height. With me a 5 gallon only last a year or less. Then I planted them into 7 1/2 10 15 and 25 gallon all in 4 year time.
How big is your tree anyway and what is the diameter of the trunk? I need to know because I usually go from 5 to 7 1/2 gallon. Then 10 gallon.
If that is my tree I would start from the scratch. I would prune it drastically and leave 2 or 3 main branches. Then I would get me a very free draining soil 1/3 sand 1/3 peat 1/3 pine bark a little bit of steer manure and perlite and vermiculite and some top soil.
I would also if I see that the roots are all tied up together, hack the roots longitudally at 3 equal space to encourage new root growth. Then put it in the shade after soaking it with water preferably with osmosis filtered water beause the pH is slightly acidic.
Don't fertilize at this time until you see new growth comes up. then use the miracle grow 30 10 10 azealia rodo fertilizer at 1/2 strength.
That is if that is my tree.
Lots of people will tell you different.

The symptoms, as Mr. R. James so ably pointed out, are what you would expect of a tree with a severe soil compaction problem. Soils, especially peat soils, calcify over time and become as hard as stone. I've seen soils so hardened that it was impossible to tell where soil ended and plant tissue began, making it necessary to use chisels to remove it in order that the plant might be saved. As soils harden, no water penetrates (except maybe after prolonged rewetting by rains &/or repeated waterings). This hardened soil is exactly like applying a tourniquet to roots and the symptoms are what you would expect. One is diminished branch extension, the most obvious is death of individual branches as individual root function slows or stops.

Perhaps we should look a little deeper into what makes a good tree soil before you adopt the suggestion immediately above? My take on it is that this particular formula/recipe will hold too much water, too little air (even initially), and deteriorate (collapse structurally) rather quickly.

The advice 2 posts above, to examine roots, is sound and a good place to concentrate first efforts - prior to undertaking anything remedial.

Al

I live in northern Utah. 596 inches of snowfall this year. Needless to say, the tree can't be planted outside. I will try to replant it in a larger pot. The symptoms seem to be accelerating. All of the new growth I have noticed over the past month is starting to wither.

Again I am puzzled why an 8-year old tree is only grown to a 5 gallon pot.
It must be grown as bonzai or ultra-ultra dwarf to let it live that long.

I have been having a similar problem with my 2 year old Key Lime. ONe day leaves started falling off until the entire tree was almost totally defoliated, then it grew some shoots and thoses leaves died. NOw I have 4 leaves on 1 new shoot and 1 of those leaves started to wilt today. THe soil is properly moist. The roots were thoroughly cleaned at Cornell University hoticultural department by their great staff but still this tree is almost dead as well. Hopefully someoen has an answer for both of us....lol

VTY
-Mark

I had a meyer like that that no matter what I did kept losing leaves and branch dying back. I cured it by rinsing the soil thoroughly to get rid of the salts and toxins in the soil or perhaps overabundance of fertilizer in the ground. It would also correct the pH of the soil if it is too high or too low by really rinsing the soil. I mean I use a hose and run the water slowly for 4 hours. I had one time run the water overnight to get rid of the poisons in the soil. I had a problem like that too with a guava tree and a calamondin tree and now it was my lychee. All recovered completely with new shoots and new buds and all become normal again. But it takes time. All those new buds that sprouted take time to grow. Or to show first. it also works with plants planted on the ground.

Ben, I know you'd know what to look for when inspecing for insects, but was wondering if Cent did.
Cent, did you check the plant for bugs? Look carefully.
Since your tree was doing well in the beginning, something had to begin the problem..It may be inadequate potting, but I'd check every possible problem that started it. This includes insects. Look for webbing, white cotton patches, and scale bugs..(immobile lumps on stems, trunk and leaves)
Cent, how tall is your tree?
I agree w/Ben about withholding fertilizer until you see new growth.
Now, I don't mean to start a war because this topic is debatable, but there is a hormone called Superthrive that works great on stressed plants. If it was my tree I'd use it..But, we can't expect miracles either. If your tree is beyond saving, nothing will bring it back. Do you have any pics of your lime? Toni

Bencelest, I was glad to see you mentioned a lychee tree among your collection of plants.I bought one this past winter and it was potted into a new media of standard potting mix,vermiculite,a little bit of perlite,and a small amount of expanded clay.It was probably in a 3 gallon pot and I repotted it into one of the 15 gallon patio or beach buckets one would use to fill with soda at the beach...the kind with rope handles.At any rate,it began some new growth,but soon all went wrong.Leaves began to shed en mass and the tree failed to materialize with even one leaf.The leaves dropped tot he point,I was sure this tree was headed for the compost heap.Ihave placed the tree outdoors since warm weather and it is growing new buds everywhere!!! I treated it for a minor scale issue taht was certainly not the cause of the leaf drop.

What can you tell me about the tree in general?Do they go semi-dormant in the winter?SHould I pot to mix more similar to one I would use for citrus,this one did get a bit heavy under the automatic mist system I have with my chameleons?How do they do as conatiner plants anyway?Can they have their size regulated easily by pot size and pruning?What fertilizer regime' do you use for yours?Thanks in Advance.