Where on the tree are/were these leaves located?

Hi, they were sort of scattered around the tree, typically on the lower parts of the branches near the trunk.

Since my original post, I've repotted it in better soil and the spotting looks like it has mostly stopped, but many of the leaves are still curled and have a slight yellow tint. I'm relieved that it doesn't seem to be dying anymore but the overall tree is still very droopy and definitely not thriving.

I did notice that the root ball was super tight and I was wondering if that's normal. They haven't reached the edges of the pot yet but it was really difficult to get any dirt out of the actual root ball without feeling like I was causing damage. Are they typically like this? I'm wondering if they're not getting enough oxygen maybe. The soil around the root ball is loose and fast draining though and it's planted in a terrocatta pot.

Thanks for your help! :)

Root congestion causes loss of foliage low on the plant and close to the trunk. Essentially, under root-bound conditions the plant has trouble absorbing the volume of nutrients needed by new growth. To compensate, the plant first extracts nutrients that are mobile in the plant and other bio-compounds and redirects those nutrients to the extension of existing branches - sort of robbing Peter to pay Paul. After the plant extracts all it can from older growth, the older growth is shed. I think that's what's happening to your plant.

How much soil do you think you added when you potted up? I want to suggest you flush the soil thoroughly, but don't want your plant to remain saturated for an extended period. Ultimately, I think my plan for the plant (if it was mine) would be to help it through to a point in time where you can move it outdoors, which will really provide a significant shot in the limb as far as growth/vitality is concerned, followed by a full repot that corrects all or most of the root congestion. You also need to get the plant straightened out nutritively, but let's first see what we can do about flushing the soil.

Where do you live? That impacts the timing of several operations. How large is the pot the plant is in? Is it cumbersome or can you get it to the kitchen sink?

Al

I didn't actually pot up this time, I just repotted the tree in different soil. The root ball doesn't seem to have expanded very much since I purchased it and potted up in September. I remember pruning the roots slightly when I did this but I don't remember it being horribly root bound in the container that it came in but I could be wrong. If it had been, is it possible that the roots have continued growing more inwards instead of expanding into the surrounding soil? It's currently in a 12 inch pot with about an inch of space between the edges of the pot and the root ball, and roughly 1.5-2 inches of soil on the bottom (which I believe is roughly the size that it was a few months ago as well).

I'm currently living in Nashville, TN where the temperatures have recently been fluctuating a lot and dropping as low as 30 degrees, so I wouldn't feel comfortable moving it outdoors. If you're suspecting that light is an issue though, I could set it up with a grow light maybe?

Also, I did do a root flush mid September but if you'd suggest doing another I wouldn't have an issue fitting it in the tub.