I would definitely leave it in a pot, at least until spring. Ideally, limes in our climate should always be in pots, but you may be able to keep it in ground with the right microclimate during future winters.

Where did you purchase it?

Houston Garden center. Yeah I was kinda leaning towards leaving it potted until about March but want to move it to something bigger than 5gal since its already so huge. Its starting to flower though so I might just leave it alone and give it a citrus spike or something.

Picture (front) next to clementine

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There goes the idea about not even moving it yet. There isn't enough mass near the bottom to keep it up in the wind :D The roots are already in shock from getting blown over once.

Redo

Hey Eric..What a healthy-looking citrus and for 15.00!! Great deal.
I'd keep it in the pot until late Feb/March depending on weather conditions in Tx..Now that daylight is shorter, (even though citrus don't go completely dormant,) they don't grow anywhere near as quickly as they do May-August. However, Mexican/Key limes are cold sensitive.

As for wind, once the nights are cool/cold, place citrus in a sheltered spot. Even if TX temps don't dip enough to freeze a plant, cold winds might. Windburn, brrr.
Friends living in TX who grow container citrus place plants against their house for two reasons..1. prevent windburn. 2. Plants won't tip over.

Fertilizer spikes: Do you use spikes regularly? I'm not telling you what to use, Eric, but by chance do you have Citrus or Azalea fertilizer lying around? Or an acidic type?
Spikes fertilize in the immediate area they're inserted. They don't spread throughout the entire root system. If you have large stakes on hand, perhaps breaking into 4 pieces, then placing each piece around pot may be better.

When the wind knocked your lime over, did it slip from its container? Why would its roots go in shock by falling? LOL. Eric, unless it was up a story or two, the roots won't go in shock from tipping over, don't worry..

One way to determine pot size is, using a tape measurer, measure diameter. Set tape on top/rim, straight across one side to the other side. This number equals pot size. It's difficult by looking at pics, but your pots look about, L 14", R 16". But they may be smaller or larger, I'm guessing.

Eric, you said, "this is my second one, but it's much bigger....) Was the first lime in the ground or a pot?
I argee with John, wait until spring if you intend on planting in the ground. If you decide to grow in a container indefinately, come spring, or when you're ready to repot, increase 1-2 pot sizes.

Good luck. Maybe it'd be a good idea strolling around your area to see if anyone else is growing lime trees in the ground??? If people in Chicago can grow palms in their garden year round, you being in z9 should be able to grow citrus, perhaps with help like mulch or Christmas lights during freezing nights. (I hope.) Toni

Yes people do have them in the ground. There is a huge one down the street about 12-15ft with branches hanging over into the space behind the houses.

No I usually use liquid with occasional tsp of hydroponic nutrient.

The top is heavy and it pulls at the root ball when it falls. Almost completely came out of the container several times and a lot of the dirt was breaking up.

I was asking what the optimal size was ;)

There's your answer. Since neighbors are growing Mexican Lemons, they're hardy.
If it was my tree, I'd keep in the pot it's in now, until spring, when it's time to plant in the ground. If roots are growing out of drainage holes, so rootbound it needs daily watering, only then would I'd repot in a container 1-2 sized larger than it's current pot.

What type of soil is your lime in? It must be really light if it's tipping over.
What is hydroponic nutrient? Thanks, Toni

I'm not sure what they had at the nursery but it was really light. Now I've got

bottom - 1cf of rocks (about 40lbs)

mixture of perlite, cactus/palm soil and 2 bags of peat moss. I got the PH down to about 6.5.

The wind couldn't blow this down but it then kept wanting to uproot the thing so I put in those supports.

Something stressed it out because its lost more leaves faster than any of the other plants did after repotting. It got blown over a good 5+ times before I got the new home for it plus its been staying "too wet" according to my water meter. It dropped 15 degrees and decided to rain like 10 days lol.

If you protect it from the wind you could put it in the ground with full sun and probably not have a problem, but be forewarned its probably a mexican lime if you got it at a Houston Garden Center and its probably on a flying dragon root-stock (which is where it gets most of its hardiness and bushiness). I grew up in Sugarland, and every couple of years it can get cold enough to kill off mexican limes but not other popular citrus like Satsumas. I'd leave it in a pot for good (the biggest one you can move come winter), but don't go to all that bother when you move it to a bigger one. Rose Soil with maybe a bit of extra sand, mulched with compost is all you need.

Hit it with an organic fertilizer in jan/feb and maybe after each season till fall thereafter if you really feel like it. No fertilizer till feb now though. Except maybe some compost tea or soil activator to stimulate the roots. Citrus/Avocado specialty fertilizers are over-rated. Most local citrus farmers use an organic all purpose granular like Micro-Life.

If you want something to put in the ground, go for a lime-quat (much hardier and a little sweeter). I think everyone should have a calamondin too, very compact, VERY productive.

Eric, overwatering will cause leaf drop and other nasty problems.
Keep an eye on the meter, lift pot to test weight..If it's heavy the soil is wet: if light, more than likely it needs a drink.
Another way to test is by inserting your finger deep in the soil. If your finger comes out moist/granuals of soil are on your finger, don't water. If it comes out dry, give it a drink. Or, instead of finger-testing, a probe/stick will do.
It's like testing 'done-ness' of a baking cake..LOL.
Have you decided whether or not you're going to keep your lemon potted or placing in the ground?
I think Jtctirus is familiar with your area, so follow his/her advice on hardiness. Toni