Mimetes hottentoticus, like most Proteaceae is relatively short-lived. The plant's life span rarely exceeds thirty years. It has proved to be difficult to grow, as it is susceptible to various root-affecting fungal diseases such as phytophthora. In 1977 Phillip van der Merwe of the Cape Department of Nature Conservation pioneered a technique of grafting this species onto Leucospermum conocarpodendron rootstock. This pincushion displays the degree of hardiness needed to protect the plant from diseases in the soil.

Grafting Mimetes

The technique is simple. There are a number of different types of grafts, but the preferred one is called the cleft graft because it provides a strong union between the rootstock and the top part of the plant called the scion. The cleft graft involves choosing a healthy rootstock with a stem approximately 15 mm in diameter and the wood still green. A fresh young shoot is selected from the plant to be grafted. The shoot should be either the same diameter as the rootstock or may be a bit thinner.

Equipment required is sharp clean scalpels, grafting or budding tape (plastic), a broad-spectrum fungicide and wax or tree sealer. The top of the rootstock plant is removed with one clean cut. A single sharp vertical incision, about 30 mm is made into the top of the cut surface of the rootstock. The cut surfaces are washed with fungicide. A fresh, sturdy shoot approximately 60-100 mm long is cut from the Mimetes plant and the basal leaves are removed. The stem is pared on either side with single clean slices producing a tapering wedge. This is inserted into the vertical cut and firmly bound in position using the tape. Tree sealer or wax is used to seal the cracks at the union to prevent water from penetrating the graft and causing disease. A clear plastic bag is placed over the graft to keep the humidity levels higher and prevent desiccation. Hoops of wire support the plastic bag. The plant is then placed in a protected position under cover. The area should not be too warm, but the light conditions must be good.

The grafts must be closely monitored over the next few weeks. The union between the rootstock and scion will take a number of weeks, but a successful graft should be evident in three months. The plastic is slit and slowly removed to allow the graft to adapt to its surroundings.

It is important that the rootstock is chosen from a disease-resistant species and also a plant that assumes the same proportions as the plant to be grafted onto it. If a large Protea such as M. hottentotticus is grafted onto a smaller protea it will outgrow the rootstock in diameter at the union, become too heavy, and the top part of the plant will fall over.

The plant grows best in containers and when provided with light shade in summer. This is probably because Mimetes hottentoticus grows in cooler conditions at a relatively high altitude and also receives the fresh sea breezes during the summer.

Dr. Louis Vogelvoel has been one of the successful cultivators of this species in his garden in Rondebosch. He has rooted cuttings at his home and has displayed container grown specimens at Cape flower shows.