We have a landrace of loquats, here, which took-on darker, tougher, more-fibrous leaves, than their more-succulent counterparts, in the jungle.
Succulent Brugmansias thrive, at higher elevations than mine, when surrounded by walls, and not under an enclosed roof.
I have a greenhouse, the size of a bedroom. It exists in a microclimate, between buildings and hedges. The door(s) remain open, unless there is a danger of frost, and it does remain consistently humid, inside.
I am reading (but cannot corroborate) that cacao may lose it's leaves, 4 times a year. It is said to be deciduous, semi-deciduous, and to exist in deciduous jungle.
Curious newbies, here to learn, please take note:
(Don't show any signs of weakness.)
One failed attempt at cacao saplings resulted from placing their planter in partial shade -- out in the open. (Actually, the stem is still pliable. Though, it has lost leaves, all hope is not lost.)
On the second attempt, some have been placed, indoors, in aerated nutrient broth.
Nothing has rotted off, nor is it dry enough to snap off.
I can report, in good faith, that cacao experiences substantial stress in shipping, though unpacked in an environment, which supports other tropical plants, comfortably.
I would be curious to hear about how deciduous cacao really is, if anyone is growing it successfully. Or, what are the limits of it's tolerance. Can someone show good work or document it, in a reproducible way?