Lachenalia orthopetala is remarkably easy to grow as a pot plant and is very rewarding. The soil medium should be fairly well-drained and consist of about half coarse washed sand and half finely sieved compost. Place in a sunny position and it will grow very happily outside during the winter months and will probably handle the odd frost. In order to keep the leaves green when they come into flower, watering should be maintained until flowering time. After flowering, watering should be discontinued and the pot should be left to dry out. The bulbs can be lifted and kept in a cool dry place over the summer months or can be left in the pot. Watering should recommence in autumn with one thorough soaking. Wait until the leaves start appearing and then watering can take place once a week or more frequently if required.

Due to the narrow nature of the leaves of this species, propagation by means of leaf cuttings, although perhaps possible, is not likely to be terribly successful in producing bulbils, as is the case in almost all other broader-leaved Lachenalia species.

It is easily raised from seed sown in autumn in a similar medium used for cultivation with a thin layer of soil placed over the seeds. The seedlings germinate within 2 to 3 weeks. Flowering will take two to three years. Ensure the medium doesn't dry out at all during the growing season. A weak application of a damping-off fungicide is always advisable, but Lachenalia seedlings seem to be fairly resilient without any help.

The plants don't have many pests apart from snails and worms (which can be removed by hand) and mealy bug which should be treated with a systemic pesticide. Occasionally lachenalias are susceptible to a fungal infection on the leaves called rust. Once this starts to appear, it spreads quickly from one plant to the next and will eventually destroy the leaves (but not necessarily the bulb). This can be treated with any fungicide recommended for rust.

Not much fertilizing is required for these bulbs as they are not generally very hungry, but they wouldn't be adverse to the odd splash of a dilute low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer.