When planting in a garden bed prepare the soil by making the hole twice the size of the container. Back fill the hole, as this will create enough space for the young roots to establish without much effort. The plant will grow well in nutrient-deprived soil, but if you must, feed it sparingly with a slow-release fertilizer.

Prepare plant beds by selecting a site where the plants will receive sunlight for the bigger part of the day. The area must drain well as the plant does not like wet feet. When watering during the drier periods of the year make sure that you give it a deep drench as this will encourage the roots to grow down and not up looking for water. As with most Proteaceae plants Spatalla mollis enjoys an acidic soil type. You can improve the pH of the soil by adding peat moss; the plant seems to grow best in pH 5-6.

When using a container, choose a container that is at least twice the size of the root ball. This will allow the plant to grow for quite some time without disturbing the roots unnecessarily by regular transplanting into a bigger pot. Ensure that the container drains well by drilling holes in the bottom and cover these holes with drainage chips or any small stones in a layer of at least 10 cm thick at the base of the container before adding soi. Use a potting mix especially prepared for Proteaceae plants available from garden centres. You can also make up your own mixture by mixing 70% fine pine bark and 30% coarse river sand. If you need to feed the plant, rather use a slow- release liquid fertilizer.

If you want to propagate your own plants it is recommended to grow them from cuttings. Make the cuttings after the flowering season, about two months before the next flowering period (April/May). Make sure that the stems are not too soft. Make the length of the stem cutting about 15cm. Remove one-third of the leaves from the stem, being careful not to tear the bark.

Use the following mix to grow your cuttings: fine milled bark (50%) + polystyrene (50%). You may also use perlite as a substitute for polystyrene. Use a semi-hardwood hormone powder to dip the cuttings in — this will help to encourage root development.

Apply a liquid fungicide after planting. Place the cuttings in a hothouse/propagation structure with bottom heat of ± 24°C or a warm sheltered area. Roots start to develop after a period of 6 weeks. Pot up the cuttings by making up a mixture of 70% fine pine bark and 30% coarse river sand. Water with a fungicide after potting up (E. Hull, senior propagator, Harold Porter National Botanical Garden 2011 pers. comm.).

Regular thinning of the plant will allow for air movement which will prevent fungus growth and will also encourage new growth. Aphids can be successfully controlled by spraying with an organic pesticide. Ensure that the plant does not grow too big for the container as this will lead to root congestion.