OFM it does look like you are underwatering, based on your soils composition!! The top dressing of "grit" really works! The plants once they are happy bounce back pretty quickly, the color changes and they'll look brighter!
Thanks for showing what you have and what you are changing...it helps for anyone new to these plants! The first couple of years I moved my plants at least 4 times, I kept needing to amend the soil more...until I realized that for my area, I needed about a 60/40 mix (60 regular soil and 40 chicken grit) plus the top dressing of grit! I probably have 1-2 inches of grit as the top dressing! I have bought 100 lbs of chicken grit in the past 2 years haha!! But these plants really do seem to respond to it!!! That's my 2 cents - hope this helps!
(I can be long winded for sure!)
oh and in terms of how long to water, I only water for a couple of minutes but I water every day when its this dry and hot!!!
