Cultivating this species is easily achieved and it flowers prolifically in ideal conditions. The corms are planted in autumn at a depth of about 3 cm in a sandy or clayey medium into which finely sifted, well decomposed organic matter has been added. The plants need full sun or bright light and are most successfully cultivated under cover in deep plastic containers with a diameter of 30 cm, or in deep bulb beds. In temperate climates they can also be grown in dedicated rock garden pockets that are securely lined with wire mesh to exclude mole rats.

In addition, the plants can be very successfully naturalised in buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) that is not watered in summer, simply by scattering seeds over the grass in autumn and covering them with a 5 mm layer of equal parts river-sand and finely sifted compost.

In cold climates of the Northern Hemisphere M. aristata is suited to cultivation in the cool greenhouse and requires bright light for as much of the day as possible. Regular heavy drenching of the growing medium is essential during the winter-growing and spring-flowering periods, but the corms must be kept completely dry throughout the summer dormant phase. The species is half-hardy and can withstand winter temperatures down to 0ºC or 32ºF. The plants flower from mid-August to September in the wild but in cultivation they often begin flowering in late July.

Moraea aristata is easily raised from fresh seeds (those harvested the previous season) sown in late autumn in deep seed trays, pots or directly into deep seed beds, in the same medium recommended for mature corms. Seeds should be sown at a depth of 3–4 mm and care should be taken not to sow too thickly to prevent overcrowding and reduce the chances of loss to damping-off fungi. Germination takes place within five to six weeks and seedlings should be allowed to grow undisturbed for two seasons before planting them into permanent positions at the beginning of their third season, during which some may flower for the first time, if well grown. In order to obtain pure seeds from cultivated plants it is necessary to cross-pollinate the flowers by hand as they are self-incompatible. In addition to seeds, M. aristata is readily propagated by cormlets that form at the tips of subterranean stolons. Cormlets are removed during the dormant period and potted-up individually, in the same way as mature corms. Propagative material (seeds and corms) is sometimes offered by specialist bulb nurseries in South Africa.

Moraea aristata is not especially susceptible to pests and diseases although the undersides of the leaves do frequently fall prey to attack by red spider mites as temperatures rise in late spring. Fungal rotting of the corms often occurs when they are not kept sufficiently dry during the summer dormant phase.