This is my first post - thank you for having me
I am pretty knowledgeable on most succulents and cacti, but this is my second lithop (the first died) and I am still having trouble. I live in Arizona, U.S.A. - the ambient humidity here is generally < 10% most of the year and the days are hot! (well over 100F in the summer). I keep my plant indoors, in a south-facing window. So the temp. inside is roughly 65-80F and humidity is still dry between 10-20%. The plant receives bright light about 6 hours a day. The potting soil is a mix of the original from the desert arboretum (sandy, well-draining soil) mixed with some "cactus/succulent" soil mix from the local store. I got the plant in springtime 2019. At the time, the plant had some shriveled, dried, outer leaves - I watered the plant once a month and stopped in the hottest summer months (June, July, August, September). I read on one website that in the early Fall/late summer, you can start giving water again (just a little bit) if the newer leaves are looking shriveled. I watered in mid-august so that just the upper half of the soil was moist. I then did a complete watering in October. I have not watered ONCE since then (I read online to not water during winter months).
My confusion is that Arizona has odd "seasons" - for instance, we don't really have a spring or winter. Its 100F right now...in April! The pictures attached are from today - this is the appearance of my plant for the last 2 months. The website I keep referring to says to not water until the outer leaves dry and shrivel. But the main leaf in the center is partially shriveled too and semi-firm to touch. Also - what's up with the split in the top? It looks like the plant is creating a new body at the wrong time??? When should I water? Does anyone know what my plant is trying to do? Thanks!
-Alyssa
