[oldman]

Citrus is fairly easy to grow from cuttings although it will be a few years to bloom at that rate. If it's not a commercial crop in your state you can probably buy cuttings and have them mailed to you.

A less expensive option is to buy a Meyers lemon, lime, key lime, blood orange, Cara Cara or other citrus at the store. Enjoy the fruit and plant the seed. It's about four years to bloom this way, but they aren't any harder to start than tomato plants and you get the seed as a bonus when you buy the fruit. It's an excuse to try new types of citrus too.

Your approach to mites and aphid is good. The soap just loosens their grip on the plant so a squirt in a gallon or two of water is plenty. Gentle rinse, no need to blast. And if you have a waterpik/shower wand or something that will let you rinse the leaf bottoms too it helps.