All Cryptostephanus species require a frost-free environment and the evergreen C. vansonii is the most easily cultivated member, performing very well in light or deep shade. Plant the rootstocks in decomposing organic matter such as acidic leaf mould, or a mixture of equal parts of acidic composted bark and coarse grit. They are ideally suited to containers and also grow well outdoors in mild climates, such as in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, provided it has sufficient shade and a very well-drained growing medium. Potted plants only need one heavy watering every two weeks and must not be kept constantly wet. In ideal conditions it is a long-lived plant, lasting 30 years or more, and forms occasional offsets.

C. densiflorus performs fairly well in containers in a sharply drained medium consisting of grit and coarse river sand mixed in equal proportion, with a layer of well-rotted compost placed at the base of the container. It likes a 20–25 cm diameter container, with the top of the rhizome placed just below soil level. The rootstock is extremely sensitive to over-watering; at the beginning of the growing season in early summer, apply an initial drench, and once the leaf shoots appear within two to three weeks, apply a weekly drench until the end of summer. When the leaves begin to turn yellowish brown, gradually decrease drenching to once fortnightly, and finally withhold moisture altogether once the leaves have almost fully desiccated. Do not store the rootstock bare-rooted over the dormant period but leave it in its dry medium until the onset of new growth in early summer. This species does not form offsets.

C. haemanthoides is the most difficult species to grow. The most commonly encountered problem is rotting of the rhizome and fleshy roots due to over-watering in summer, and to excessive desiccation during the winter-dormant months. Depending on the origin of the form being grown, place C. haemanthoides rhizomes in a lightly shaded or sunny place and plant in a 20–25 cm diameter container in an acid medium such as equal parts of composted bark mixed with coarse grit. Follow the same watering procedure for C. densiflorus (see above), but bear in mind that C. haemanthoides plants go dormant earlier, usually in mid-summer, and begin growth earlier, usually in late winter. The plants are usually solitary but may occasionally form offsets.

Seeds of C. haemanthoides germinate fairly easily within a couple of months but seedlings are susceptible to damping-off fungi (Adam Harrower personal communication). Seeds of C. vansonii are notoriously slow to germinate, and nothing is known about germinating seeds of C. densiflorus. Remove the outer red, fleshy layer from the ripe berries to obtain the seeds. Place the seeds onto the surface of a well-aerated medium such as equal parts of composted bark and coarse grit in deep pots or seed trays and half-cover with the same medium. Using a watering can with a fine rose, water with a contact fungicide and keep the medium slightly moist but not wet. Seeds of C. vansonii can also be sown this way but may take many months to germinate; alternatively, allow the seeds of this species to germinate within the ripe fruits, while still attached to the ovary wall, then remove seedlings and pot-up individually. The juvenile period for C. vansonii is three to four years in ideal conditions, but is unknown for C. haemanthoides and C. densiflorus. Once well established, leave cryptostephanus plants undisturbed for at least five years before re-potting. Offsets of C. vansonii are best separated and replanted in spring.

The leaf upper surfaces of all three species are susceptible to infestation by red spider mites in warm, enclosed, greenhouse conditions, so place the plants in a well-ventilated area. The tunics surrounding the rhizomes sometimes become infested with mealy bugs, and the leaf margins are sometimes chewed by snout beetles.