Any chance of a picture? Dry and crisp in such a short time sounds like water issue. How have you been watering? How much and how often?

I have watered just a little each day from the top. I made sure the soil was damp all the time . Diane Pearn

Just bought a new one too so want to treat this one with respect. Please advise before I do anything to it lol D.Pearn

To me that looks like overwatering. Watering a little each day is not ideal. The soild doesn not need to be damp all the time on the surface. It needs a good drink, not sips, and then nothing until it is thirsty again. Lift the pot up. It will be lighter when it needs water. Also is that whit pot a cache pot? Or is the plant growing directly in it? If so are there drainage holes?

Yes holes in the bottom made sure of that. It is a ceramic pot. will leave it for a while then till it feels like it needs watering, thanks for that most helpful. the new one has damp soil so will wait til it feels like it needs more water. Hope I do better with this one. Grew loads in the garden in the UK no problem but so much different here in the Algarve. Thanks you for your help, Diane