It must be the soil the aloe plant was potted in I'm guessing that's making it come off smelling like a onion and I've noticed with my aunts it isn't clear or green either weird colored aloe and I googled onion smelling aloe plant and it's what brought me to these questions on it because kI was searching for answers as well to this smell myself.

Beauty is most certainly in the eye of the beholder. I have never been a fan of variegation. To me they are unattractive. Go figure. x

Thanks, everyone, for the great advice. Since I could not find a Turface retailer nearby, and since I did not want to wait (call me impatient), I went to the local NAPA store and bought 25 lbs. of Floor Dry #8822. Cost less than 10 bucks, which is cheaper than dirt. Literally, if you compare to bagged potting soil. Tried out the new mix on a few plants. It's around 50% Floor Dry, 20% gravel, 20% perlite, 10% potting soil. I removed the chicken grit, because mine is for chicks and is the smaller size. Didn't think it helped (but it is nice for rooting cuttings). Here's a pic of my Sarcocaulon herrei in the new mix. I actually liked the look of the mix so much (more natural, if I can say that about a potted plant) that I did not top dress with gravel. I know there are still more fines in there than some would recommend, but I think that, overall, it is a big step up from what I was using. Drains like a Shih Tzu through a goose. Unless I run into issues, I'll probably wait to repot everyone else until they go outside in late spring. Or, if I get snowed in for a weekend and feel the need to get my hands into some dirt. Thanks, again, for all the help. Bill

Thanks to all that gave us plants. We had a great time. Jenn, thanks for the green glass and the antlers. They look really great! Can anyone identify this one for us? I don't remember who gave it to us or the name of it.