Is your tree in a pot or in ground. Why are the rocks over the trees roots. If the tree is outside permanently then is the concrete under the tree. What zone are you in. Meyer lemons in pots are almost impossible to grow. There will be a handful of people that will insist they have no problem. most of us do. I think your tree is starving for food and nutrients.

My tree is currently in a pot. Also, I am in 10B. So you are suggesting that I should plant it in the ground? Can you suggest citrus trees that are suitable for a pot in this zone? Thank you!

There are no citrus trees that do well in pots at you tropical level. You can expect 4 times the growth and production with an in ground tree. The only reason to grow in a pot would be a need to move the tree. Even an ground tree in mostly shade will out do a potted tree in full sun. You are 4 zones to the south of me so wait until other with you climate reply for best suggestions. My best guess is a water shortage and feed shortage are the big problems. You also probably have insect problems. Check for spider mites. They are invisible with out 10X power.

I would say not enough fertilizer and a pH issue..I can't see your tree lacking from a lack of sunlight or in a mix that stays wet too long that would kill off feeder roots...

I will say that trees would grow just fine in a pot in your area, better than mine would, but as stated, in the ground would do it even better)

Also if you need to tell us about your growing medium, is it all pebbles? How often do you water? Why do you water? (How do you decide) are you adjusting ph? When and how much do you feed?

Pip What rootstocks do you thick would be best for container growing vs container size.

Pretty much just dwarf and most semi dwarf. From what I can tell the issues are usually due to big rootstocks being put in pots.

Otherwise the issues seem to be care and not the plant itself.

To be completely honest, I am very new to this. As far as soil, I planted it in citrus/succulent soil from my local nursery. It is very well draining soil, lots of sand. Medium, yes, I covered the top layer with full pebbles. Is this bad? I water about once every two to three weeks, I was afraid that I was possibly over watering. I have never fed it nutrients, which is probably the problem. Also, I have never adjusted the ph. Is there any resources you recommend, books, websites, etc., that I can get more info on the care for citrus plants? Thanks!

Sand? Sand can suffocate roots and take up valuable porous air space if it's not very coarse....If your mix was coarse and free draining, you would not have to worry about over watering especially down south there)

That citrus/succulent mix is a joke and an out right advertised lie..I have tried it and for all my plants, it just stays wet far too long.

Here is where you can find a treasure cove of info, right here at this citrus forum. You can become successful like many others if you just take the time to hang out, get to know some of us, ask question, and do a search in the 'search' bar for a good mix you can make at home that is far superior than any bagged mix you could buy and other info)

Mike is right and to build on what he said, sellers get cheap product and look for a market. They didn't design it to work for citrus they just felt it was good enough

One last thing, almost all pre made mixes work excellent when cut 50/50 with perlite. It's relatively cheap, light, and you can still use your soil until your ready to move on to the advanced stuff.

Thank you guys very much for your help! So I should always ask what kind of rootstock the tree I'm purchasing is, if I want to use a pot? What type of rootstock would you suggest for a pot? Lastly, I was wondering if you all feel like I should remove the pebble topping from the soil?

Oh! And what are some of your guys' favorite citrus plants that you have in pots?

Kumquats Meiwa and Fukushu. $7/pound and they are half rotted at time of purchase, so grow my own.

New Zealand lemonade tree. Can't be purchased at all in Cincinnati.

Hardy Chicago figs. easy to grow, very productive, pest free, dry figs on tree.

What not to grow. Oranges, $0.69 per pound. Grape fruits, $0.50/ pound. Lemons, (why ask why) They are only good for bathroom tile grout cleaner. Limes, mixed drinks (you will die of liver scleroses using your limes.) Meyer lemons, You will have to pick all your unripe fruit 2 times yearly when the tree losses all of its leave due to light change caused by moving your tree in and out for the season.

When growing in pots it is best to stick with small fruit varieties. It is MUCH easier to get 10 pounds of kumquats that 10 pounds of grape fruit from a stressed tree sentenced to a life time behind enclosed plastic wall (bars).

Your stores will Never carry what is best for you and what the home owner has in choice of rootstocks usually spells disaster and a bitter taste towards growing any kind of fruit trees.

The easiest........Ponderosa and any Lemon tree..They will survive anything but under watering..My Ponderosa does not see direct sun for 5 months all winter and is kept cold and yet grows flowers, fruit and they ripen...Crazy

Then I love orange and I guess for me all the others are a lot more work

All great advice. I'm curious though, why not plant it in the ground? Like Steve said it will do way better there than in a pot. Do you rent and want to take it with you, or some other reason?

Louis, if you are serious about growing healthy trees in a pot, have you considered making a check list and seeing what they might be lacking, one thing at a time?

If anyone is to hit the issue right on the nail, it will be you. We can only guide you, but we are not the ones that spend as much time with your trees as you do...As a general rule, most citrus trees do very well in a container if given every thing they need to be happy...

On your check list should be....

A good soilless mix, one that allows you to fertilize regularly and in good amounts, one that allows you to water freely without fear of root rot, one that fried out rapidly and one that allows the roots to easily breath...Do I use this?

Sunlight...Lots of it year round if possible....Do my trees get this?

Temps that are consistent...Ones that drop about ten degrees my night and stay above 55 and no higher than 95..Are my trees exposed to this?

LOTS of fertilizer, one that provides macro and micro nutrients as well as Ca and Mg. Do I use this?

A fertilizer solution of no higher 7.5 pH and no lower than 5.5..That means that one MUST know the pH of their municiple water...Do I know what my water pH is?

Frequent flushes if their mix is fine in nature that does not allow salt toxicity. Should I do this? Does my mix hold salts?

How to judge when to water? Do you use a wooden dowel?

Have you checked to see if the bottom 1/2 of your containers are holding moisture when you see that the top is dry?

This is just a start....Can you see where you have erred in any of these?

Mike)