The leaves don't look too terrible, but they might start dropping. You said you removed all the dead roots? And the tree came this way? Trees can bounce back from a lot, I'd make sure it was repotted in a good mix, and then baby it and wait and see.

I did remove all dead roots. The photos in the ad did show a lot of dropped dry leaves which were cleaned out before I received the plant, I actually noticed it (the photo) before buying, so I have been warned, I just didn’t want to be concerned about it :) it’s from Record Buck Farm, I’ve read a lot about them on this forum since this morning... anyway it’s not like I have any alternatives now, so I don’t regret buying it. I was very surprised to see the roots particularly because the leaves looked so good. The only worrying sign was that there is zero new growth, but I hope this also means that at least there was enough roots to survive if not thrive.

I would recommend that you replant the tree, and nothing else. Looking at your picture, there is still enough roots for that tree. You might keep it out of the direct sun for a couple days.

I might add that it can take a tree awhile, when it has had any significant trauma to the roots, to start showing new growth up top. Usually trees will replace roots first, and then grow new leaves. Especially with citrus, that I've found tend to grow slower in more northern climates, it will likely take a few weeks to a few months to see anything above the soil line.

@Silica, that sounds really comforting! Thank you!

@bonsai_citrus_and_indoor_gardening as long as it doesn't die I'm ready to wait however long!

What medium did you replant it into? You need a really well draining medium for citrus (even more so someplace with as much rain as Seattle). A medium that holds too much water is the #1 killer of container citrus.

@Ken B Zone 7 I mixed my own soil: 1 part peat+coco, 1 part compost, 1 part perlite. I also dropped some pine bark there just to make it even more porous. It turned out pretty light and airy! We actually don't get as much rain during the months it's going to spend outside. I'll keep it inside under lights during the wettest=coldest months I think.

Pushkay, I might add that my first personal citrus tree (much of my experience comes from years of working with a family member's trees grown in a greenhouse), was a damaged nursery specimen. In the case of that tree it had significant root damage from some burrowing insects in the soil, had a millipede infestation, had a large chunk cut out of it on one side (tree looked like it had a bite out of the canopy for about a year), and was deficient in all kinds of minerals. In addition to all of that it had a sizeable hole in the trunk that had been covered up by the tag. Many of the original leaves were fluted or curled, and the first flush of new growth came in deformed. It took two years for the tree to make a full recovery, and it has since made a full recovery, but it was a long road, and took a lot of managing each new problem as it came. I mention this to say that trees CAN recover, but it does take a good deal of time.

@bonsai_citrus_and_indoor_gardening thanks, yep, I get it! I'm not expecting it to fruit or flower or even grow new leaves anytime soon. As I see it now, it's not me who needed this lemon, it's this lemon who needed me to save it =) So I'll just nurse it back to health and hope it recovers! It looks beautiful, all the leaves are still there, so I'm optimistic but I don't expect a miracle, for sure.

Don't look for a miracle, but don't lose hope either. My Nagami, the tree that had all the problems, is now a full and very beautiful tree. I think sometimes we wind up with plants like that, which need us, but they reward us for it too.

Well, it was unavoidable, my lemon started dropping leaves... I keep spraying it with water at least twice a day. Just waiting if it pulls through, I guess there’s not much more I can do.

It still looks alive though, so I keep my hopes up!

Today I noticed what looks like new buds forming on my tree! These lost leaves from my last update ended up being the only ones to fall off. The tree just seems to be sitting there doing nothing, but I know it’s making new roots and now hopefully some new leaves too! I’m so happy!

I must confess, my citrus collection has grown since... I have 12 trees now, wow!

Always exciting))

Of course there is hope..

So, after a week of very hot and most unlike June-in-Seattle weather my lemon tree is once again droopy and just the most miserable thing in my garden. And I can't even find these tiny buds I took photos of. Oh well! At least it's still alive!

Here it is this morning. I think, as long as it isn’t in bright sun it’s doing fine, so I’m just keeping it under a generous shade of my tomato plants :)

I’ve got to make a photo shoot of all my citrus plants, there’s quite a few now 😆

Those leaves are beautiful! Love the variegation, I may need to get myself one of these...

I love that tree. Hete is mine in a nice porous mix. I find that one very sensitive to wet mixes.

@Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.) what a beauty! I hope someday mine will look just as great =)

Puskay, thank you and I am sure it will. Just keep up the work)))

So sad, I am sorry to hear that. I would get another. I love this tree.

Sad to hear, sounds like getting knocked over and the unseasonably hot summer might have gotten it. If you can get another, they're definitely a worthwhile tree to have.

@bonsai_citrus_and_indoor_gardening @Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.) Thank you! I will look into getting a new one, probably next spring.

I don’t think that getting knocked over had any effect on this poor tree, not really. It didn’t have any new roots at that point, I checked all potting mix and there were no severed roots. The root system looked exactly the same as it did on my pictures above, and they were taken a couple of months prior to the accident. I am now so scared of overwatering my other citrus trees though! And I think it is just what they need! The ones that get the least water look the best! Contrary to my expectations 😆

Y’all are awesome…growing citrus in your zones. We have the weather here in south florida, but we’re getting killed by pests
Like Asian psyllid and HLB. Anyway keep up the great work I’m impressed.

Pay attention to soil pH…university of Florida has great resources online for home citrus growers