Oh, Sammers I am so sorry for you. But don't give up yet. Make sure they get watered very thoroughly. Run the water through the pots at least three times to make sure the soil gets really drenched. I have had trees recover even when they have lost all leaves. It may take weeks.

Oh no Sammers!! I am so sorry! I hope they pull through and that you recover soon. Keep us updated please!

I concur... losing leaves does not mean they are dead. Fingers crossed for you!

I feel badly for your loss of leaves and hope it is only the leaves that are lost. Soak the pots in trunk deep water for an hour. Make sure all the soil is wet and place in a shady location. I loose track over who is who so I'll suggest planting some trees outside permanently. I know that some of the sweet lemons go down to 16 minimum but I don't know if the NZL will. My NZL is outside, in ground, and struggling. I plan to put the second NZL in ground this late summer. It is easier to protect citrus tree outside than care for them in containers. It takes a lot less time and much safer. Best of luck with your trees

6b Steve

I feel your pain. All good advice here already. After you thoroughly watered the trees, let them get dry again before deep watering. Tiny new roots are rotting very fast when too wet. I think it is a bit of a balancing act for sure.

Sammers. how in the world did you pull your back out, you poor thing? I am so sorry for you. It's even worse when you know you have so many things that depend on you and there is not much that you can do. I broke my heel a few years back and I was laid up for 3 months, and of course in the heart of hot summer. It was awful just trying to get anyone to water my trees for me. I hope you are able to do your full potential soon again. Your trees will be ok even if they loose their leaves. Please keep us updated. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I know how much you value your trees and how much you have invested in them. To me, it's more important that you get healthy and then your trees will follow)))

Mike

I am so sorry for what you went through with your back and your trees. I hope your back is doing better and that you still have a few family members that will continue to help you out until you are completely back on your feet. Do not try to lift your potted trees or over extend yourself until your back is healed. I also believe your trees are just in a reserve mode and should recover. We still have a lot of summer weather left and the trees will take off again after they get over their shock. :)

Thank you everyone for your concern and encouragement. It makes me so happy to be part of a forum where people care about their trees as much or more than I do. Sadly it was one of my Brugmansia that did it to me, I was watering my plants late at night after getting home from playing in my Sand Volleyball league and I felt fine but I must have pulled something because I went to pick up one of my brugs that had tipped over and couldn't get back up. I had to crawl inch by inch back into my house from the front yard in the dark at 10pm with my front door wide open and my puppy all in my face trying to play (I let her come out front with me when I water to help her train on being good off leash) It took over 30 minutes to get myself inside and call for help and another hour after that to get to the couch, I went to urgent care the next morning and the Doc said I had a severe muscle spasm pressing on my spine and nerves which is why I couldn't walk. I put the dogs in daycare for the week and I am just now getting back to being able to move. Its crazy how such a simple thing can mess you up so badly, it of course had to happen while my boyfriend is on a family trip and I'm home alone for a few weeks. I have had my aunt move the trees to the least sunny part of the yard and soak them down. Now I play the waiting game to see what pulls through, I am hopeful it will be all of them but sad I sacrificed all of this years fruit. Hopefully a late summer bloom will happen and I will manage to get one or two.

OMG, Sammers! Fingers crossed they revive, and your back too! Good Luck!

Fingers crossed here, too. I've been in a similar situation. Mine involved a large banana plant. I've got my citrus in 5gallons now, and am just starting to worry about when they move up to the next size.

I would caution you to be very conservative with your back for longer than you might think is necessary.

Will look forward to the recovery report.

I hope you and your trees recover! It's tough to have back issues. I have been dealing with mine for the past 6 months and it always seems like it's triggered by some simple move I have done 1000 times before with no issue. :p

They should recuperate..., really. I neglected mine over the winter in the garage due to personal problems and a few lost all their leaves due to severely arid conditions. They have since re-foliated completely outside. I don't use a gritty mix and still, it can be difficult to keep up with watering (in the winter because I have to drag myself through the snow into my garage/greenhouse and in the summer due to heat and sun). Despite the physically challenges keeping up with a enormous collection, in the end, it keeps me happy and SANE! Good luck.

Oh Nooooo Sammers - terrible news! #1> get that back rested and healthy. #2> give those trees time... Both of these will take patience. I can tell you that I stared down one of my first Lisbon lemons for a full 6 months before it re-foliated. Persnickety... and so are backs!

I'm to the age where I have to stretch thoroughly before working on my trees. Last year I threw my lower back out while fertilizing on a cold and damp morning. All the best for a speedy recovery, Sammers.