Wilting leaves would be an indication, but otherwise just pay attention to the potting mix itself. If it is dark/cool to the touch below the surface there is water there for the plant. Early in the season containers seem to never go dry, but once the heat of summer comes and the plants are large it's a completely different story.

Thanks for your answers so far ^^ I feeling a lot more confident with the summer growers, but I'm finding that I have more winter growers than I had originally thought. This is where I'm getting most confused. Should winter growers still be kept in a cool environment and get watered often or should they be kept in a warmer environment in the winter and then cooler in the summer? I am feeling bad cause I'm afraid I might hurt or kill these plants. I keep hearing and reading that it's very bad to water any succulents when they are in a cold environment, so I'm not sure how to keep these winter growers. That's my own stupidity thinking that all cactus and succulents grow in a hot and sunny environment. So far the ones I have read that are winter growers that I have are: Albuca spiralis Aloinopsis rubrolineata Dioscorea elephantipes Pelargonium carnosum Pelargonium laxum Pelargonium paniculatum Are any of these other succulents that I own winter growers? I spent 5 hours last night searching for every plant and none of these mentioned growing in the winter: Adenia spinosa Adenium obesum Adromischus cooperi Agave stricta Alluaudia montagnacii Aloe daniel Aloe fragilis Aloe lineata Aloe variegata Cissus tuberosa Crassula mesembryanthemoides Crassula rupestris Dorstenia sp. Edithcolea grandis Euphorbia bupleurifolia Euphorbia gottliebii Euphorbia lactea Euphorbia mammillaris Euphorbia milii Euphorbia tirucalli Euphorbia trigona Euphorbia venenifica Gasteria Huernia hybrid Ledebouria socialis Mammillaria bocasana monstrose Pachypodium geayi Pachypodium sp. nova Petopentia natalensis Portulacaria afra var. foliis-variegatis Stapelia flavopurpurea Euphorbia enopla or fimbriata Bryophyllum daigremontianum X tubiflorum Thank you all so very much, Ross

I will give you some very general suggestions. I water mine weekly in hot weather. In nature they only get what nature gives them. I don't where you live, so it's difficult to give instructions. They are native to our south west states. The soil is well draining, and we do water once a week, except during the winter months. Never grown inside. I also give a low non nitrigen liquid fertilizer. 2-10-10 to encourage flowering. I do not grow this species at home, only at the Huntington Gardens. Just my luck I would fall into the plant. LOL Norma

Karen As far the water is concerned I also have a water softener and I use that water for the hummers. If your tap water tasts ok to you, is palatable then use it. Where I lived before I had hard water and it would almost make you throw up , but my water from the tap now is very drinkable. As far as the sugar is concerned there has been much discussion on the subject. I have done a lot of searching on the net and different forums and some people have said their hummers drink the beet sugar no problem and others have said they prefer the cane sugar better. My preference would be the "white cane granulated sugar" mainly because thats what I was raised on. Its a good bet if it doesnt say cane on the package that its beet sugar and if it says it comes from michagan sugar co. you can bet on it that its beet for they are a major producer of beet sugar. In this state one of the biggest brands of sugar is Domino which what I usually get, that is "Domino white graulated sugar" although on the package it says "premium pure cane granulated" hope this helps.