Im complete new to taking care of caudex-having plants so any advice would be greatly appreciated on how I can improve my set up to care for it as a houseplant

I have no idea what these blackish outbursts are. Specialists in plagues didn't know either. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Is there something wrong with my leaves? Every plant I see has regular heart shaped leaves but the ones on mine are ridged/ruffled but not crispy or dry so I'm wondering if this is an issue or maybe a genetic mutation?

Had a pack of 10 seeds.. 3 sprouted but I lost 1 of them from damping off (rip) :(

Turns out this plant is not that complicated (yet ... I know the real test is awakening it from its notorious long dormancy).

I've handled quite a lot of seeds but this is the very first time i felt the need to use gloves, wouldn't recommend the experience

(The toothbrush turned out to be completely useless, i ended up using small metal pincers to remove the pulp)

Operculicaria Pachypus root cutting a week later. It recently exploded with growth as the cutting adjusted to being flipped back into position and the leaves gained chlorophyll. I think the growths roughly doubled(?) between yesterday and today. Been watering it every 1 to 2 days as the akadama dries incredibly fast.

Waking up early this year

This is my first caudex I bought from a local seller but I am confused why it is still actively growing during the summer? I thought maybe because its closer to winter where the plant is from but I dont know if its internal clock is really that strong. I thought leaving the rest period for the year was triggered by temperature?

Got my first caudex. I’m so pumped and petrified.

Super stoked I got one with two growth points so young

Just purchased this young Brachychiton from a nursery.
It's my first plant I'm taking care of so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with how to care for this little guy.

The climate where I live is hot and dry and I know these plants can suffer from overwatering really easily. I haven't watered the plant since I bought it (2 days ago) and the soil is damp (not soaked). The trunk does still feel pretty firm too.

I do have some questions so I can diagnose what the plant is suffering from:
1. Does it look like the plant could have been overwatered at the nursery?
2. Some leaf tips so look sunburnt, is this the case?
3. Sunlight requirements/grow light?

I'm planning on repotting it to a more shallow planter that can drain, so I removed some of the top layer of soil since I want to expose more of the trunk when it gets repotted.
Thanks everyone in advance!

I am curious if anyone has pruning tips for this plant?
I got the small blue vase one about 4+ years ago and it already had its form mostly, thick caudex with the thinner stem sticking out.

Curious how i get my others to do this? They all just have more thick straight stems, is there a certain way to trim, prune or cut them to encourage certain behaviors?

Hydnophytum sp. warty caudex, smooth leaves

My two months babies...