Hi @dars,
It sounds like your jacaranda might be experiencing stress, but the cause could be a few different factors.
Since it gets northern light all day, it’s getting plenty of sun, which is ideal. However, watering twice a day was likely excessive, and even though you’ve reduced it, the tree may still be adjusting. Overwatering can cause root stress, leading to leaf drop, even if the soil doesn’t seem too wet on the surface.
Jacarandas are drought-tolerant once established and typically do better with deep but infrequent watering rather than frequent shallow watering. Try switching to watering deeply once or twice a week, depending on how quickly the soil dries out.
A moisture meter is helpful for checking the moisture in the trunk, but the location that matters the most is the roots. You are better off checking the moisture by pushing your finger into the soil. If it's still damp a few centimetres down, hold off on watering.
Another possibility is seasonal leaf drop. Jacarandas are semi-deciduous, meaning they can lose their leaves in dry or cooler conditions, even if they don’t go fully dormant. If your area has had cooler nights or a dry spell, this could be normal.
If the tree is otherwise healthy and you don’t see new shoots dying off, it may just be going through a temporary stress period. Keep an eye on how it responds to the adjusted watering routine.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Jacob
