I know it may be problematic or not possible for that matter, I just thought I would try it. There is a picture (I tried to paste a link below) of what is reputed to be plicatilis crossed with bainesii and I think it is a terrific looking plant. I dont know enough about hybridizing to know if that is something that is possible by using natural techniques or if that is something that is created in the lab or something. I am generally not into aloe hybrids but I am attracted to the aloe tree crosses. The tree aloes are right up there with my favorite plants and I cant help but to be interested in the hybrids for the attractiveness and more rapid growth tendencies. Jordi, that is impressive after 10 years and starting from such a small seedling. Dont you also have pillansii in the ground over there? Are they pushing out leaves right now and how are they doing with all this rain? I have three small pillansii seedlings in pots in the window and I am waiting for it to warm up a bit before I move them out to more of a small greenhouse situation. They are sending up tiny new leaves right now and I dont want to mess that up. I am in Spring Valley so we are pretty close and I am encouraged by your success with pillansii as I would love to put mine in the ground when they are ready. Here is a link that might be useful:

What you need to do is come up with a potting mix that you are confident will not retain too much moisture, will have adequate aeration and is stable. Then, you will not have to worry about "overwatering". You have all the right ingredients: turface, pumice, a little pine bark I suppose. If you see that your plant is actively growing - to the trained eye it is clear: brighter colors at the meristem, plump tissue at the growth points) - then water well and don't worry about the season. One or two untimely waterings will not kill a healthy plant. A weak plant succumbs to rot. x

I germinated about 100 Agave seeds, never expecting them all to make it...I was right but I did get 82 of them.I put several of them in a clay pot with soil and covered it with saran wrap.I kept it on a shelf above my kitchen sink under the florescent lights and within a few weeks they were sprouting like crazy.So far about 75 of them are still going strong.Once they got a few inches high, I took the wrap off and misted them almost daily. Hope this helps

Well somoene bought it - I hope from reading here.. if so let's know what it's like. Evilbay have some very good stuff in the upper price range.. Sadly some of the cheap ones are just leaves and have failed miserably... I would rather haunt the weekend markets... I have got some lovely things from there