UPDATE 11/26/2018: It was definitely a lack of sun, once it became warm enough to set outside they perked right back up again. surprisingly they even made it through a northern Oregon winter OUTSIDE (on a covered porch, no snow last year) hopefully they'll make it through another one this year as I just don't have the space to bring them in.
I forgot to mention that "stick in a pot" was losing its leaves BEFORE the tree outside fully bloomed and they get watered once a week or if dirt seems dry and they sit above a heater that stays on.
