I have to agree w/ the above posters. Sounds overpotted (too big a pot) & very underwatered. As further example, my plain Aloe (likely A. vera), has abt 4 or 5 heads, they're 12" tall from soil level to leaf tips & they're all together in a 5" pot. Beach sand is one of the worst things one can do. This needs Cactus & Succulent mix (preferably w/out any peat) w/ lots of perlite or pumice added for drainage (maybe 1/2 each soil & perlite). This ensures the mix will be fast draining. You didn't say how tall the plant is, but 1/4 cup water sounds too little. I water mine every other wk, maybe 3x that amount of water & mine sits in full sun, west window. Also, maybe you should have moved yours out to bright sun gradually, like a few hrs. a day, not all at once. If it were mine, I'd change the mix & pot it down smaller, so that the pot is only 1 or 2 inches around larger than the rootball.

Westgirl, photos are helpful :-) Just upload them to Photobucket, then find your photo, float your mouse over it, and then click on the HTML code to copy it to your Windows clipboard. Then, just right click in the body of your message and select "Paste". That will paste the HTML code into the body of your message, and your photos will be embedded right into your message. I suspect not warm enough, and maybe too wet. Key Limes are the least hardy of any citrus. You're much better off with a Bearss lime, which has some lemon in it genetics, and much, MUCH more cold tolerant. I don't even bother growing Key limes where I live, here's a photo of a big bunch of Bearss limes we just picked: (That's a Valentine pummelo on top of the limes, btw.) Check out the roots carefully and see if you've got root rot going on. If so, try to trim away the decaying roots, and repot carefully. Give it as much sunlight as possible - bring it outside while it's warm, then inside at night. Watch the moisture in your mix, and it may make it. Patty S.

For plants that grow outdoors, the bloom time is in the spring.I am in Texas so it started showing its bloom in January. I first noticed a tiny long skinny protuberance , almost 1/16" by and 1inch and they were there for months before the bloom top showed in January. Here if you look real carefully just above the central "V" where the main leaves join, you will see it. If you click it , you will go to my flicker page, and click it again I think you can enlarge the image for a better view. I was able to know how many blooms I was going to get..Second shot shows the buds and the last shot shows how the "protuberance connects with the bud. This shows on another species of aloe but is hidden on the variegata. I thought it might be of interest. so you know what you are looking at. This does not happen on all aloes.

Thanks, Holiday-ers! Yes, the materials seem like the "bottle brush" type of thing...but little wood ears, feet, etc...they are very CUTE & unusual! (love 'em, Frou!) luvs...that lady card could be Dollybaby all grown up! You're so smart! LOL! I ended antibodics about 10 days ago & was doing quite good...got out a few hrs at a time all that week...aunt's funerals, outdoors a few hrs, a few hrs. shopping...had started walking outside more (short walks, nice days)...but 3 days after ending 14-day antibodics, got the cough in the evening & it was like starting all over. I hate it & shared it w/DH (still) ...hopefully, we're getting there! Yesterday was better than day before...today about the same...so tomorrow...even more better (cross fingers)! Thank you. Here's to a "Happy Spark Day" to you all! Jeanne S.