Many Streptocarpus species make beautiful pot plants and garden plants for shady areas. Ensure that a warm spot with good light is provided indoors but no direct sunlight as the plants burn easily. Many Streptocarpus species are grown and displayed in the Conservatory, Camphor Avenue, the Dell and in pots in the Visitors' Centre at Kirstenbosch.

Streptocarpus can easily be grown from seed and remember that species are best propagated by seed but to keep a particular hybrid or colour form identical to the parent plant, it must be propagated vegetatively, by cuttings or division.

All propagation is best done in spring which is the start of the growing season — during winter most of the plants are at rest.

This resting period will cause the plants to form abscission layers. This is where the tip of the leaf turns yellow, then brown and then dies. It is a bit unattractive but will cause no permanent damage to the leaf which continues to grow from the base. It is a natural reaction of the plant to unfavourable environmental conditions such as cold or drought. The dry leaf ends can be pulled or cut off.

For seed sowing, mix a pinch of the dust-like seed with a small amount of sand to assist with spreading the seed evenly when sowing. The medium should be well-drained but not too coarse. Cover with a very thin layer of sand. Sown seed trays should be kept out of direct sunlight but should be kept warm and moist but not wet until the young seedlings appear. Germination usually takes 3 to 4 weeks; do not allow the seedlings to dry out.

Streptocarpus can be propagated from leaf cuttings ideally taken in spring and early summer. A variety of mediums can be used as long as they are well-drained. Sand, bark, palm fibre and polystyrene or vermiculite in different ratios are all suitable. At Kirstenbosch we use 40 % bark, 40 % polystyrene and 20 % sand. The medium should be watered well and treated with a suitable fungicide before using. Only select young lush green cutting material from the centre of the plant and cut it off using a clean sharp knife or blade. The base of the plant will form more plantlets than the distal end of the leaf. Larger leaves can be cut into 30 mm strips. Always take note of which way the leaf cutting should be placed into the medium before dipping into a rooting hormone.

Place the cutting into the medium but not too deep, as this will encourage rot; plantlets will form from the base of the leaf. Alternatively, cut along either side of the midrib of the leaf and treat it in the same manner; plantlets will form at each vein junction. Depending on the species, plantlets will form along the base of the cut in one to three months. When the plantlets are well established (30-50 mm), the old leaf can be teased out from the medium and the plantlets potted up, usually between 6-12 months.

The potting medium that we use at Kirstenbosch consists of the following: 1 part good compost (2 wheelbarrows), 1 part coarse sand (2 wheelbarrows, 1 part palm fibre (10 blocks = 2 wheelbarrows). Add a small amount of organic fertilizer.

Mature plants often lose their vigour after three to five years and should be replaced with younger plants.

To prevent pests and diseases and ensure good plant care, follow good growing techniques. Do not overwater as this causes stress and keeps the plants cold and damp, which encourages fungal development. Allow the soil to dry out between watering; this may make the plants wilt quite badly but they have the ability to recover quickly. Note that severe wilting can be a sign of root rot caused by overwatering.

Worms are the most troublesome pests of Streptocarpus; keep a close eye on the plants and hand collect them or spray with a suitable poison.

Remove all plant debris — this includes dead flowers and yellow leaves — as it will encourage fungal development. Also remove the inflorescence completely after flowering to keep the plant looking attractive and to encourage new flower development. In the case of fungal disease on the plant, affected leaves should be pinched off and the rest of the plant treated with a suitable fungicide.

Feeding should occur every two weeks during the active growing season using a suitable foliar feed.

Repotting of plants should commence once the roots appear at the bottom of the pot.