I hate ebay due to the very high cost of shipping. Sometimes I see a plant as cheap as $3 or $4 dollars then shipping $8.99 or so. If possible, I try to find my stuff at a mail order nursery so I can cover the cost of shipping by buying several items. I did get some great deals on ebay so I still look. Any more, seems that my local Wal-Marts gets some really nice stuff at very cheap prices. Best if you can pick your own plants seeing them displayed. After reading about Aloe mites, makes me scared now to order anything.

Love all your new plants David! It's great that your Ikea stocks up on their succulent section. The Ikea here in Brooklyn is almost a joke when you look at a bunch of deserted and miserable plastic plants labelled "assorted succulents". I was eyeing the "Black's sharks fin" too, in the listing the plant looked really.. black. So I'm guessing it needs some sun to change its shade. I was looking at this Black Aloe too, I guess it shares similar pigmentation when exposed to prolonged sun. I'm particularly fond of the blackness it presents.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aloe-Black-Gem-Live-Plant-sp-Hard-to-Find-I-combo-ship-/161707505710?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0amp;hash=item25a684b82e Quick questions, how long does it usually take you for plants to arrive when you purchase them overseas? I bought 2 more plants, 1 from Aus and the other from Spain. And it's been more than 3 weeks now. I'm really concerned that they might be confiscated or the plants might not make it to me alive. Figured you might have more experience in this, so wanna hear your personal recount. As for the time being, I'm abstaining myself from buying anything overseas.. until my purchases arrive. -B

It is an aeonium. I'm not sure what it is exactly but it had regular light green leaves when I bought and assumed it was an Aeonium arborescens. Somehow my LED grow light triggered it to change into this color. Now, I don't know what it is or perhaps it's the plants reaction to a stressing agent. I am almost certain it will revert to its natural state once it gets natural light. For now, I will enjoy its new color.

Looks like a Gasteraloe:). What species I have no clue. I find a person who can id Aloes or their hybrids to be pretty amazing. An almost impossible feat for me:).