How big do you think I should make the pot and what kind of soil mix?

I would extract the tree from the soil and examine the roots. I'd guess you're root soak has started root rot, which if not stopped will lead to the ignoble passing of your tree. If the root isn't a healthy white/yellow color but instead is brown/black and slimy and smelly, I would cut back off all the dead root. If present, you will want to replace the soil as the fungus and bacteria will be that old soil. Also, if you could snap a clear picture of the dead vertical branches. It looks like die back that I have seen before, which has caused scion death for me. Also, take a picture of the lower trunk, it looks like you may have buried the graft line below soil, which would allow bark rot.

Here is the pictures you requested. I will buy some new soil tomorrow and repot. Should I put in a smaller pot? Also what kind of soil should I buy?

Pictures

Mike is certainly correct about the soil mix that your tree is planted in. I believe the soil mix you used is 95% of the tree's problem. You do need to repot the tree, and repot in a better soil mixture that allows for higher soil oxygen levels, and better drainage. Do not just replant the tree in the same type. Regular peat base mixes are not a good mix for citrus. On this forum is a lot of information on a mix called 5-1-1. Myself I prefer a 5-2-1 mix which is very similar to 5-1-1. I would suggest that you look it up and use it.

Chris, tough to see details in the photos due to the over exposure due to what I assume is camera flash/light. But, in the soil, there are a few healthy roots visible. I couldn't make out the graft area for sure in the trunk photo or the branch health. If you could use a less concentrated light and put a neutral solid behind the plant for the photo, that would help.

If I had to guess, you may have lowered the plant (eg, had soil up the stem, higher than how you got the plant), that would compound the major damage from the wet soil. Definitely, change soil. You can look up citrus soil mixes in this forum (5-1-1 thread), some also love the coarse sand mix. But heavy peat as mentioned by others would keep too much moisture on the roots. There is a full thread on people using miracle grow mix successfully (and I have used that for growing citrus root stock with no issue, but use something akin to 5-x-1 range depending on ingredients available.

I see that I can get a Miracle grow citrus/cactus potting soil at my local Home Depot. Would that be a good soil to use?

I do have Espoma Organic Citrus-tone dry plant food as well

There have been mixed opinions expressed on here in the past about Miracle Grow Cactus / Citrus Mix. I can't comment too much as I grow my citrus in ground, though I can say some people have been happy with it.

Get some coconut coir

Organic is generally not recommended for pot use as the concentration of active microbes to process organic fertilizer. Also, there is generally a smell. That said, I have used fish emulsion (on both soil and leaves) during the summer when the plants are outside. Espoma usually has either fish/animal meal so it will have a strong odor if in your house. And if you have dogs or cats, will attract them to dig at your soil.

My soil mix uses fully processed compost out of my compost heap. It is still 3 parts pine bark shreds and nugget with 2 parts of the compost and 1 part perlite. Even with that I still don't use organic partly because of the unnatural growing in a container and cost$$$.

Steve

Hey Everyone,

So it has been difficult finding the needed soil in my area. The best I could find is the pictures below. The guy at the center also said this would work. What do you guys think?

Many types of peat mediums work for a month or two, however they soon begin to compact, start retaining too much water and driving out the oxygen. Then your back to the same old problem. If you can't find bark chips, you can find them at most any pet supply store, under the name Repti Bark.

That may actually work for my situation. Apparently garden centers are just starting to get in soil. I can use this for a month and then repot when other soils come in?

Otherwise I’m stuck with the miracle gro citrus and cactus blend.

just try to realize that roots need oxygen, not just water to grow correctly. anything that is a “fast-draining mix” will work.. as i use coco coir.....and have had excellent results provided you know how to fertilize properly, (ph meter and dissolved solids meter aka ppm)

Hey everybody,

So I went to repot the tree and I underestimated the size of the bulb so I will be buying a different pot tomorrow.

I took a look at the roots and they look completely healthy. I then took the moisture meter and put it directly in the bulb and it’s telling me that it is dry when everywhere else in the pot is telling me the soil is wet.

Maybe I haven’t been giving it enough water?

No.. It's either teling you that the root ball has used up all the soil within itself and the older soil is too wet to move into, or that you are pouring water into it incorrectly, unevenly, or that when you did the last repot, it was not done correctly.

Silica gave great sugesstions with everything, spot on. and thanks for that) If you can't find a way to make a lousy bagged mix composed mostly of fine ingredients more porous, I would temporarily use that until you can in a smaller pot, one just a bit bigger than your root ball. All brand new good bagged quality mix works just fine until in starts to compact and break down. Also I would try to gently remove the old soil mix if there is any from the root ball and loosen it up a bit.

Did you know that mixes that are no porous actually absorb salt deposits like a filter from your tap and fertilizers? That is why you should flush a mix like the one you are using at least every couple of weeks or use a porous one and not worry about it so much.

I would get rid of that meter. Using your findgers alobe should of told you that the root ball was dry in such a shallow pot. Use a wooden dowel, your finger if it's shallow, or pick the pot up after it's watered and then when it's dry and get a feeel for it.

Mike)