Help with Meyer lemon tree

Question: My Meyer lemon tree had been thriving in full sun until about a month ago. I’ve fertilized it twice since I received it in December (once in February and again late May) with citrus tree specific fertilizer. About a month ago the lemons and leaves began turning yellow and dropping. We had received a bit of rain from several storms and the soil became very wet, so I monitored the moisture level with a meter for a week and it did not improve. I repotted it with fresh potting soil (only the loose soil was replaced) and fertilized again. I’m keeping the soil moisture mid-range and it’s still in full sun. It’s been a week and the poor thing is just getting worse. I don’t see any bugs, not sure about diseases. Do you have any recommendations?

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 19, 2023, 11:58 AM EDT
response: Hi,  This looks like it is suffering from a root problem. When the leaves yellow and wilt, the plant is showing you it can not take up the needed You could try to take it out from the pot again and examine the roots. Are they loosened or wrapping around in the pot form? You can actually snip a few and loosen them up if they are wrapping around to help them spread out more.  The saucer under the pot - are you emptying it, or letting water sit in there? That could be causing the soil to stay too wet. Did you move a pot size larger when you repotted? Perhaps it is too big? If the pot size is too large the soil in the pot can stay wet for too long and affect the roots, keeping them too wet, and can cause root rot.  When you check the roots again, feel free to send back another photo of them if you have questions about it. If you can get the roots happy, the plant will probably drop the leaves and flowers, but it should make a comeback and leaf back out.  Give that a try and let us know if you have further questions! Emily

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 19, 2023, 1:11 PM EDT
response: Hi Emily! Thanks for the reply! When I replace the soil, I put it back in the same pot- it’s about 2” larger in diameter and depth from the original container it came from the nursery in. I have checked the saucer routinely but not noticed any water accumulating. I’m beginning to wonder if it just isn’t draining, although the holes have appeared to be functional when I take the tree out of the pot. I just took it back out and the soil was saturated in the bottom….. again. The roots are not bound and don’t seem to be mushy or diseased. I’m thinking it’s time to try a different pot that might drain better. Here’s a picture of the roots. Thanks again!!Amanda WeiserOn Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 11:58, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 19, 2023, 1:36 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the photo! There are some spots that may look like the roots are failing, the ones with the white tips on some. But if you can shake off a lot of that soil and re-pot it in as much fresh mix as possible that could help. If you can take that saucer off or if you decide to try another pot with better drainage, that would probably help too!  Give it a try and see if it can rebound!