bought a finger lime from a nursery in march. potted in 25gal pot. kept in on the patio, used same fertilizer as for lemon, avocado and tangerine trees but smaller amt. it had only a few buds which fell off with first stiff patio breezes. Nursery guy said it'd be done budding for the year: boo hoo. But about a month and some cool weather later, about 34 buds popped out and fruited. Hot, hot weather spurt started browning the leaves and I read that in Australia they like a canopy so I moved it under a shade tree (filtered light) which it seemed to like much better...no more browning leaves. But I watered it and all but 15 fruit fell off. I pampered it which is hard to do when you don't know what you're doing. Now it's July 15 and suddenly there are tons of buds again! Weather is cool for this time of year and perhaps it's being fooled into thinking it's springtime again. I can't believe it's budded three times though, and I just bought it in March. So far, no mature fruit bud the tiny 1/2" fruits are still hanging on there.

The soil just under the base of the tree may be damp, but I'm betting the rest of the soil in that pot is bone dry. That tree looks like it's dying of lack of water. If I were you I'd take it out of the pot and examine the soil. Sometimes potting mix can seem wet on the surface but have large dry pockets down deeper. If it's a peat based mix, and most store bought are, if it gets too dry one time, it's almost impossible to re-wet from just watering from the top. It would need to be submerged in a larger pot that does not drain, and really let it soak for 24 hours. Then remove and water normally. Imo, 2 weeks without watering is way too long.

Sorry, I've been busy. The visit went very well. The young man knows his stuff, genuinely cares about the good health and integrity of gardens, commercial and residential and likes his job. First we went over documentation. Regulations require that buyers (us) obtain a permit to get a plant from overseas AS WELL AS requiring that seller has a phyto certif. or some agreement with USDA. The Netherlands, for ex., has such agreement. That is why you can go to tourist shops there and bring back the bulbs they sell. But technically, you should have permit in your wallet and declare those things when going thru customs. You can get permission up to 12 of certain plants in your luggage, again, need permit to do that and declare. Not all plants, there is a list. You go to USDA website and search permit PPQ Form 587 and it will tell you what all you need to do. As to my plant, he said that technically he should have confiscated but didn't. However, he asked me to report of any problems with plant. I said yes and considered it a solemn promise to him. There will be a record of my visit, what I purchased/planted, from whom, etc. As to my other citruses, other than aphids, there were all in good health though he did take several pics of a branch on mi Lisbon Lemon. He noticed something unusual and said he'd contact me if problems. I feel better but it will be much simpler if I just buy stuff here, by the rule. Easier said than done where my taste for the exotic rears its ugly head.....

I just bought a red finger lime tree from home Depot. If you go to the citrus section and look at the lime trees they each have different tags with the varieties on them. I found one left. It was 39$ I'm in st Pete Florida. It specifically says it can only be sold in Florida not shipped.