Okay, after doing more research, which so far I feel the more I research, the more conflicting information I find. In regards to the pine bark fines or the reptibark, I’ve seen a lot of people for it but also quite a bit of information that says stay away at all costs! This lemon is doomed.

Obviously, I’m now willing to make my own mix. So let’s hear these recipes and thoughts on reptibark and pine bark fines which is apparently impossible to find or be consistent so let’s try to be very specific when mentioning, please! Time is ticking and a life is on the line! (Sorry, I just have to be dramatic about my lemon. I don’t have kids yet sooo my plants are like my babies )

You have one plant. buy the reptibark in a bag and mix it no sifting see amazon. Your in Chicago indoors you need a good draining mix, 5 parts reptibark to 2 parts bagged cactus soil is a easy compromise. Why you bought a meyer lemon? Its a horrible Citrus for beginners. a Calamondin, any mandarin, and any ordinary lemon is better.

Because I’m a masochist and after failing my gifted Meyer lemon I’m determined to try and succeed this time lol

Besides nutrition, the two greatest requirements for success when growing container citrus are root zone moisture and oxygen. Many on this forum use the 5-1-1 medium, which is a good medium and many people have success with it. Personally, I prefer a 5-2-1 (5 parts bark, 2 parts peat, and one part perlite). For the bark portion, I use Repti bark. This mixture supplies both the moisture and oxygen. Use a fertilizer with a formula higher in nitrogen and potassium, and lower in phosphorus plus of course trace minerals. My fertilizer of choice is Jacks Professional 25-5-15 which is made by J.R. Peters Inc. Your not the first person to kill a citrus tree, so don't despair, as the average life of a citrus tree grown in a container is less than two years. However, with knowledge of the care containers trees require, a container tree can last 100+ years, as seen by the century old container trees of Tuscany .

I caved and just ordered...

2 type of pine bark fines

sphagnum peat moss

coarse perlite

dyna-gro foliage pro

garden lime

and a new basic plastic pot ill hopefully get better drainage in. I forgot to mention I believe the one I have has holes but is somehow “self-watering” which I feel is a whole separate issue.

planning on repotting on Sunday. Will post before and after pics. Pray for us. Haha

link to disastrous Round 1:

you’d think I would have known just a little better. In fact, I’m second guessing repotting in the 5-1-1 mix. Maybe I’ll just keep some of the bad soil and 70% 5-1-1? https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5535046/very-sick-meyer-lemon-help#n=76 

I would recommend growing it in a miracle grow potting mix, if they sell that where you are. It is too late to do any repotting for this year. Fertilizing will not be needed until April or May of next year. South facing window should be ok. I've grown them here in Canada in a s. window and have gotten a few fruit. No problem. I am talking about a back sliding door- of glass that has lots of light not not a 2-3 foot window. That will not cut it. A fan will not do anything for it over the winter.

They need to go a bit dry in between waterings otherwise you can get mold and a lot of various pest in the soil. Best of luck with it. I am on my second too, only from the cold killing it back in Jan.

Well you ordered all the classic components of a 5-1-1 mix, I often reuse spent 5-1-1 mix or use soil from a new purchase as a component in my mix (I don't use straight peat, This is a personal choice.)I'd say most growers use it it stray from the strict formula for what suits them. But since you committed to a 5-1-1, see it through. Self watering pots are trouble for Citrus, save it for another houseplant. Nobody can know where your plant will be and your exact conditions so after your done repotting you should repost.

Miracle grow potting soils is basically just a bag of peatmoss. Certainly not a long term medium to grow a citrus tree in.

I feel like I read somewhere you are suppose to premix and soak part of the 5-1-1....is this true? Maybe it was the pine bark?

Yes wet the reptibark and mix together and let it soak, 2 or 3 hours is fine others say overnight

I didn’t get reptibark, I got pine bark fines which are branded for orchids. Should I still soak? Also, mix together as in swirl them around or mix the entire soil ingredients together?

I dry mix everything in a plastic tub first, then soak

I’d say ideally soak like Brooklyn said, which is what I try to do. However, I’ve done it without soaking either, soaking reptibark separately, soaking entire mix (not too much water though it it makes it difficult to handle), etc...I’ve not noticed a difference honestly, but I think soaking some is best. I’ve always used reptibark so I can’t comment on the other mix.