Sorry I could not get sooner to thank you all for posting so far, but I had some internet connection problems. All seems ok though now! Thanks for sharing all of your opinions and even pictures!!!! Thank you Mike for the congrats! This year is my first pretty good year getting fruit on most of my trees, some for the first time. I had given them a plant light last year, along with a new fertilizer I found this spring, and that seemed to help. I still need to get a better light for them now that they are inside. I started a post a month of so ago, and got a lot of helpful info from you all (thanks!). I am just deciding whether I am going to keep them upstairs in the living area where they have always been when I bring them in every winter, or transport them down to the basement. If I do basement, I would go HID, but if I stay upstairs, the HID would be too much, so I would just need something to supplement. Even the cheapy GE plant spot light I got last year helped well compared to just window light, so I am sure if I moved up to something a little better, I will be able to keep my leaves, flowers, and fruit attached for the whole winter season. ANyway, so I am finally getting good fruit to grow after all these years of waiting and learning how to keep them happy while indoors for the winter. (oh, and another MAJOR thing I learned from here that helped was how to make good REAL container mixes for citrus). Although I did not think of this before until mksmth said so and mksmth is right, that the flowers are all white so far. I will check again over the next few days as they get bigger. A few should open up soon. I guess the last test will be tasting it. But I feel so happy that the tree got fruit for the first time, that I am waiting till the last possible moment to pick them because I am enjoying just seeing them on the tree finally! I am also wondering what would be the correct thing to make with the first lemons. I would like to make something special with them just because they are special. Any suggestions? LOL! I will keep this updated as the blooms get bigger. THanks again for all of the help! Christy

Is the bird allowed to roam freely in your home? If so, it could have shredded a few leaves. My friend's mom had a parakeet that they let out sometimes. When they weren't looking it often would shred the paper towel roll or a magazine. It didn't take long either, couple minutes of them not looking. It was like the bird watched them and as soon as their eyes were off it, zoom! shredding done, lol!

Your tree will take it's time coming back after who knows what it went through, or will start putting on new growth as soon as tomorrow. I don't understand why you waited this long to put your tree outside? Why may I ask you? Mines just limp along in the dead of winter and barely hang on by spring, and would drop all their leaves of I waited this long. I would rather give them tons of sunlight and cooler temps, what I mean is no lower than the low 40's.Less stress, believe me on my trees and myself. f I held them hostage inside longer than 5 months they would do poorly, unless of course if mine were in warmth and full sun in a greenhouse. Did you ever tell us where you live? What zone you are? It's also hard to be positive with you in saying with confidence that it will do fine when no one knows or will ever know exactly the care you give it all year long, especially in doors. What we can say is that a good watering regimen, a good quality mix and a good quality fertilizer with the right pH will do wonders for any citrus grower and their potted trees) Mike)

Ok I am going to cut it back a bit after reading all this. thanks Ken B I am eating these things and you're telling me the only way to grow them is with chemicals? I find this hard to believe. why cant I use an organic fertilizer made for citrus? like this: https://www.amazon.com/Jobes-Organics-Fertilizer-Release-Container/dp/B00Q71JSSG/ref=asc_df_B00Q71JSSG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198090738693&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16104003444561032232&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020618&hvtargid=aud-829758849484:pla-349645095571&psc=1 or this one https://www.amazon.com/Down-Earth-Organic-Citrus-Fertilizer/dp/B011L3T25I/ref=asc_df_B011L3T25I/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198107334619&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16104003444561032232&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020618&hvtargid=aud-829758849484:pla-349629411989&psc=1