First read this :
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/citrus/downloads/cns-twg-report.pdf
Then toss them out.

Citrus, I'm curious about the site you posted, will have to read it.

Xebby, since mushrooms are growing, obviously the soil is too heavy and you're overwatering. Why did you decide to water citrus more than other plants?
Citrus love humidity, but overwatering isn't the answer.
What type of soil are your citrus in and what size are pots? If containers are large and soil heavy, more than likely, roots are sitting in moist/wet soil that causes problems. After long perods, roots can no longer absorb water and/or fertilizers.
Is it possible to set your plants outside during summer? Which direction does window face? Toni

What is the coldest your area gets in the winter? Regardless, I would definitely repot them in very loose well draining soil, water only when the soil is pretty dry to the touch, and get them outside when the weather allows. You will be amazed at the difference you will see in your plants from being outside.

I was just not familiar with how much water citrus needed and living where it's very dry I thought they would need much more water then my native plants and cacti. The windows face East and North in my kitchen. During the winter our days are warm but night drop below freezing there can be as much as a 50 degree difference between day and night. Now that summer is getting closer it's not so bad and about past the freezing time of the year. They are in 8 inch containers like I had followed on the planting directions they came with.

Can someone summarize what that article is about? I can't seem to load on my computer. When I bought the tree I had asked the girl working in the gift shop if it was safe to take the trees back to New Mexico. She said as long as it was not California and a few other states she mentioned then it should be legal. Seeing other people also buy trees from the large display I thought it was alright, even the boxes they cam in had a very gift look to them like they were made to leave Florida. I still have the box and on the outside they read "GROW INDOORS!" and "From Florida" there is a website on the box: www.reedbroscitrus.com but here is a direct link to the exact trees I bought: http://reedbroscitrus.com/template.asp?page=patio

Thanks for your help!

Citrus, they wouldn't allow me open the site you posted either..wonder why?

Xebby, I didn't know you bought the citrus in Fl..Actually, the woman lied to you. It's illegal shipping, or in the eyes of the law, 'smuggling' citrus out of FL to any state. Her goal was to make a sale.
An Ebay seller out of FL sold citrus last year. The person who won the bid was notified by government officials. They came to her home, and confiscated her plant.

Another thing I don't understand is why the box would advise growing indoors..that doesn't make sense..LOL Are you sure your plant is a citrus?

Actually, citrus need more water than Cactus, since cactus/succulents retain water. Are the native plants you mention succulents? or something other?
Water when soil is dry. Not to be confused with soil that's so dry it cracks. It should look/feel crumbly on top and deep mid to lower soil. Maybe you're confusing wet soil with humidity??? Is that possible? Citrus need humidity. Since your plants are small you can mist daily, and shower once a wk. If brought outdoors, hose foliage.
I'm still baffled why the box would instruct growing indoors. If you're sure your plants are citrus, I'd set outside once days and nights are 45-50F and up. Toni

I wonder why the airport would even allow the plants to be sold in an airport gift shop where planes depart if it's illegal to take citrus into or out of Florida?!? There where several other people who also bought the plants and I can almost bet most of them where just like me, waiting for a flight to depart. This was back in December so I wonder if things have changed since then.

So anyway, what should I do with these trees? Should I keep trying to get them going again or should I just scrap them and perhaps stick to more local nurseries for my plant sources?

Grow Indoors! It is probably a loop hole in the shipping ban law, disease can not spread if they are inside only. That maybe how they are getting around it.

J

Xebby, I believe Jrcan got it..they warn on box to keep indoors as a loop hole shipping out of state, therefore, they get away selling citrus at the airport..My goodness, the airport of all places..LOL..
I doubt your new citrus has Canker or any other spreading disease/s. Since NM isn't a citrus growing state, you haven't any need to worry about your trees infecting other citrus. But I am totally baffled they get away selling citrus at the airport when they KNOW people fly throughout the globe. Perhaps the government is unaware.
As soon as it warms up, place your citrus outdoors. There IS a huge difference growing citrus in an east or north window, opposed to sunny, fresh air outside. I imagine NM is arid, right? In summer, too?
If so, group plants together, hose daily..Foliage, not soil. Grouping plants helps with humidity, especially when hosed. If you can't hose, then spray/mist. Moreso if NM is dry.
What is a swamp cooler? LOL. Can you please explain/describe?
BTW, what size pot were your citrus planted in when purchased?
You mention tiny pots..what's tiny? 2,4"? If they were in 2-4" containers, then potting in an 8" is too large..over-potting may be the reason your citrus lost leaves. Normally, when repotting, it's best to increase one size up. It depends on roots too. If roots are few, then potting in a pot 3+ sizes larger, especialy if soil is heavy, citrus are bound to rot or develop other problems.
Use a citrus soil or make up your own mix. Mediums that drain well. Unpot, (carefully) and pot in a container according to roots. After repotting, water thoroughly, until water seeps out of drainage holes. Spray leaves in sink. If temps stay above 40-45 at night, (with smaller plants, I'd wait till temps are 50+) set plants outdoors. Start off in a semi-shady spot..wait a while then set closer to light. Do not place citrus in full sun in the beginning. Fertilize, read instructions for dossage and times. Citrus fertilizer is best, but if you can't locate, use something for acidic plants. Again follow dossage and time instructions on package. Good luck, Toni

LOL, a swamp cooler is what we use here instead of an air condition system. It works great in places with little to no humidity but not so great when there is even the slightest moister in the air. Basically it works by running water on pads that send cool air throughout the home.

So...perhaps there is still hope for my trees? They came in small, maybe 1in X 1in starter pots and then I transplanted them into 8in deep pots. I really appreciate all the info here. I'll see what I can do and then report back, I think when I was thinking that they needed moister I was thinking soil rather them the plants them self. Thanks!

Hi Xebby..where do you live if you dont mind me asking?
Never heard the term Swamp cooler,
We don't use AC, CA or Swamp Coolers..LOL..just fans and open windows. Humidity and heat doesn't bother me, but cold, dry air does.
Ppl say they can't wait till summer, then stay in their ac'd homes and run out to their ac'd cars..It makes me laugh. Nope, 90F and 90% humidity is my fav weather..

I'd say there's hope for your trees..One way to test if a tree is alive or not is by scraping a little bark off branch..If it's green, then plant is alive, if brown, it's a goner..if you try this, and find one brown branch, it doesn't mean your whole plant is dead, just that branch. Sometimes we need to scrape different areas, though I dont like messing around scraping bark..
We have to be careful with instructions. Most times, label names and info are incorrect.This happens quite often, especially at big box stores.
If they were my trees, I'd mix a batch of well-draining soil, and decrease pot sizes..most likely, your citrus are potted in way too large for their size, therefore, when you water, soil is constantly wet because of excess soil.
Compare roots to a pot size. For example, say roots are 2" wide when bunched together. I wouldn't plant any larger than a 4-5" container. Two inches of space between rootball and inner pot is fine, anything more equals too much soil. I hope this works. If you do repot in fresh soil, after potting, give each tree a hearty drink. Use a pot with drainage holes. I use 'ugly, plastic, growing pots for citrus.' Ceramics are pretty, but plants do best in unattractive pots for some reason. Good luck, and keep us posted..Toni

I live almost in the center of New Mexico just south of Albuquerque. A swap cooler does make the inside of the house a little more humid then the outside. I once worked at a place that had wooden doors and as soon as the swamp cooler started running the doors would swell a bit and not close properly until the swamp coolers where turned off for the winter. We can easily get 100+ degrees in mid summer and it's all dry heat, not a drop of water in the air. Most native plants are cacti and very cacti-like plants all pail in color compared to the lust green it seems many of your are familiar with. Grass is very difficult to grow here and in the city they have laws on the amount of times a week a person can water their lawn because of water shortages. Many have just turned to xeroscaping rather then deal with it.

So you see, I just don't think I live in the best location to even own citrus. It's really challenging but I think that it can be done somehow. I moved my trees into smaller pots, cheap plastic transplant pots for now until I can get a better handle on them. I used a very well draining soil that I mixed myself. So far so good it seems. I have a spray bottle to mist them a couple times a day. Only thing now is to decide where to place them, they are still inside but I haven't quite decided where outside would be best for them. I have two giant herb garden pots I have outside that are doing great on the west side of my home sitting in my southwest style entrance way. They are shielded most of the day from the sun and that seems to work best for my herbs, maybe the trees would do best in that area or would they need more sun? All the branches feel very much alive, just missing leafs. I hope I'm on the right track now with these poor little trees.

Sounds like you are doing all the right things now. I think you are right about putting them in the area near your herbs. I would not let them get anything more than morning sun right now until they are totally recovered.

Xebby, even though you have grass restrictions, what about garden plants? Trees, perrenials, etc?
If there's no garden restriction, perhaps hosing the area in the morning would help with humidity. Since you've a few trees and herbs it won't take much water to spray foliage, you know? (not soil,) To create a humid atmosphere, even if it's temporary.
I've heard, when in an area where temps are 100F degrees, it doesn't feel as hot as it would it humid places..is that right? This is something I've heard all my life. Still 100 degrees is 100 degrees..which means hot. When it's 100F degrees here, plus 98% humidity, it feels like 105F or higher.
I wouldn't give up..Keep spraying, preferably with a hose, if not then a mister. As long as branches are alive, your tree is living. Good luck, Toni