Congratulations, that's definately a bloom stalk, pls. DO NOT CUT IT OFF! What kind of Aloe is that anyway, do you know? Pls. post back a pic or 2 showing the whole plant when the blooms open; I'm sure I'm not the only one curious to see what the blooms will look like open.

I understand your being hesitant to repot the plants again so soon after the first repot. I was in the same situation. Folks here told me that I could leave my plant in the less than optimum soil and hope for the best or get them into soil where it will thrive asap. I went for the second repot and my plant is doing great. I'm currently in SW Florida, zone 10A, but I grew up in zone 6 in Portsmouth, OH. While regular potting soil works so-so in Ohio, and my mother still uses it, I think you may do better with at least a cactus and succulent soil. You still need to mix at least 50/50 perlite or pumice with the soil. Every succulent that I used potting soil on when I lived in Toledo died from rot. I didn't think I was overwatering, but the plants did. I think the soil was a big factor. Hopefully the sun will be shining for you soon! It will lift your spirits and help your plants thrive.

Tyler II wouldn't be afraid to keep them in the back room at all, it is great if you can get that much sunlight. If they suffer from lack of light, they become leggy - etiolated. That can't be reversed. So give them all the sunlight you can. I over-winter succulents in temps as low as 8*C. Just make sure they are not over-watered - and potting them in grittier mix you are planning on making will make that much less possible. I go by this rule: colder it is, less watering; since it takes longer for potting mix to dry out. But with better sun you can give them, it probably won't take very long. Check for moisture with a bamboo skewer, inserted 1/2 - 2/3rds into the pot. If it comes out dry - time to water. If it feels damp and you see small particles sticking to it - there is still enough moisture and don't water for a day or few. You can also check by how heavy pot is: right after watering, lift the pot and try to remember how heavy it feels. Do the same in few days - as it dries out, it becomes lighter. After few tries you'll be able to tell. I take all my plants outdoors as soon as night time temps are consistent 10*C - I would perhaps do it even sooner, but don't want to watch for a sudden drop in temps and drag them all indoors again. Rina

It turned red because of more sunlight. It should go back to green with less light.