From what I have read, they are like haworthias and do well in lower light :) I'm still on the hunt for some to add to my collection, but still haven't broken down and ordered anything online yet.

They typically like more sun than haworthias. I would treat gasterias very similarly to aloes in terms of water and sun.

Bunkfree- if you don't want to lose your head, do not browse Gasteria on eBay or Etsy. ;-)

Garrett, do you grow both Gasterias and Aloes?

One wouldn't think I had enough sun for Aloes. It isn't enough for some ugly, etiolated Sedums and their hybrids, but my Aloes are quite happy with it. It confuses me, but I just love them and I'm so glad they're doing so well.

I'm in southern california, as a result I have hundreds of species of aloes and maybe 10 species of gasteria, on top of many others. Aloes are a bit more resistant to etiolation for some reason, and while they enjoy full sun, they can tolerate partial shade.

Hi. What I like about Gasterias is that they are not the type that etiolates indoors. They do great with lower light places, given at least shade.

Care is the same. Medium of half soil half pumice does great. You can add some compost if you want.

Watering is the same. Water when dry. Here in Manila, I water my aloes and gasterias once a week and are in a West facing window.

My 'Green Ice' seems to prefer a little bit less direct sun than my Aloes. Hmm - maybe I should correct that to say that 'I' prefer the plant with a little protection from direct sun. It will tan. If you prefer the green color you may want to protect from evening sun. (Oops - how about afternoon sun instead? LOL)

This thread shows a good example of tanning -

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4147755/gasteraloe-green-ice?n=5

kwie - thus why I don't browse those sites LOL. I am on a "diet", but if a gasteria or gasteraloe should happen to appear in my travels I have my own permission to fall off the wagon.

Breton- I'm excited to examine this plant when it arrives because I also thought 'green ice' was a Gasteraloe, but I have since also seen the name applied to Aloes and Gasterias, so I'm really curious whether sellers are confused about the genus of their plants, or if they're misapplying the name.

OK, full disclosure: I kind-of lost my head. I also ordered an Aloe 'green ice' from another seller, so I might get 2 Gasteraloes, or one Aloe and one Gasteria, or who-knows-what. I'm excited to find out.

thanks everyone for your help! I'll post pictures as soon as they arrive next week.

I agree with Beth on all points. My Gasteria get a bit less light than my Aloes. They get the same watering treatment and soil mix. =)

Kwie,

I am also curious to see what you get. Misnaming and mislabeling is rampant on the internet, as well as at many suppliers.. There's little to no negative effect for selling a mislabled plant, since the majority of people won't even realize it, and most of those won't care...

(Except for people like us, of course!))