Great thanks! Seemed to slip my mind to ask the shop keeper if he knew! Thank you!

The cactus may be an EchinopsEchinopsis hybrid, but iI expect to be corrected.

The Aloe, is it not a Gasteraloe hybrid?

Thanks Rob! Particularly the cactus has stumped me!

The cactus looks like echinopsis peruviana...like my one, only in a clump...

the aloe is gonialoe variegata. Hybrid gasterias....are not that similar to this...

Thanks Stefan, nice to get some ideas on what they are! I love them regardless but it's just fascinating!

My guess would be the cactus is a Echinopsis/Trichocereus.

No Rob, sorry,

It IS an Aloe variegata, aka Tiger Aloe or Partridge Breast Aloe. It's a common, readily available Aloe, pls see the link.

https://worldofsucculents.com/grow-care-tiger-aloe-aloe-variegata/

Nice one Becky, looks healthy

Sorry, I don't grow or know Cacti.

Thank you Karen, (and for the link)! Unfortunately I cannot take the credit for it looking so healthy as I only purchased it yesterday! :D

Becki

I would comment on one of the things suggested on that site linked: using sand in potting mix. It is mostly not recomended on this foum. Many ppl purchase play sand that is too fine a packs very well - great for building sand castles but not so much for succulents :) It may pack and inpede drainage. Coarse is better and that is why many of us use grit. Size of particles between 3-6mm is best - similar to sifted perlite or pumice. It is much easier to find in bulk (50lb bags) for around $10-12. Here is photo of mix I use: approx same amounts of grit and perlite and very small amount of turface (light brown particles):

You don't have to use this kind of inorganic mix, many use 1:1 mix of C&S soil and perlite (or pumice): - photo by Crenda:

Sand could be used, but it should be coarse. Usually best to handle by experienced growers...Harry, member of this forum, uses some sand, but he has been growing succulents for many, many years. IIRC, it is more often used for cacti - but do not know for sure.

Here is one of my plants (grown from offset of original plant) and it is growing offsets now:

Grit on top - topdressing - is bigger than grit in the mix. You don't have to use that either....

Around Seattle I have seen many plants that are similar called Gasteraloes. Now iI will have to reconsider them.

Some Gasteraloe or xGastrolea are quite similar looking - meaning mainly the smoothness of the leaves and coloring. These are hybrids of Aloe or Aristoaloe and Gasteria. Good examples are G. Green Ice and G. Green Ghost. Other hybrids may have more 'rough' surface and some teeth. Hybrids of Aloe aristata have some filaments at the tips of leaves.

Plant posted by OP is known as Aloe variegata (common names partrige or tiger aloe) that was previously included in Aloe genus - but Stefan is correct, proper name/genus is Gonialoe...hope I have this correct! :) There are 3 species in this genus: G. variegata, G. sladeniana and G. dinteri...(I just learned this by reading - I always used to refer to it as Aloe:)

Thx Rina, good catch about the sand; seems I missed it. I offered that link of those offered 'cause I thought the pix showed it well, its growth habit & style of variegation. I don't happen to have pix of the one I grow.

That's the first time I've seen the new name. How is that pronounced, like a hard G?