Gasteria thunbergii is a slow-growing, attractive plant with horticultural appeal. It is characterised by its leaves with their decorative warty (tuberculate) transverse zebra-like bands, elongated and tapering to sharply pointed tips. The leaves turn reddish during the dry season. This species is easily propagated by division, offshoots, leaf cuttings or seed. If grown in shady conditions, the leaves tend to be longer and greener, compared to plants that are grown in full sun with much shorter compact leaves.

Gasteria thunbergii thrives in cultivation (on window sills) and does best as a containerised plant or grown in miniature rock gardens. It is a prolific grower and its stoloniferous nature soon ensures dense clusters. Although G. thunbergii is a slow grower, it thrives out-of-doors and is best cultivated in Thicket Gardens (Van Jaarsveld 2010), or similarly dry Mediterranean-type gardens in other parts of the world where frost is not too severe. Plants prefer partial shade, and should be protected from full sun in hot climates. Plants should reach flowering size in about three years. To obtain pure seed it is best to hand-pollinate plants. This can be accomplished by using a sharpened matchstick to transfer pollen to the stigma of a genetically different plant, thus ensuring that the species breeds true.

Gasteria thunbergii plants are easily propagated from seed, stolons, or leaf cuttings. Apply a fungal inoculant or fungicide when growing plants from seed. Sow seed preferably during spring or summer in a shady position in a sandy, slightly acidic soil. Cover with a thin layer of sand and keep moist. Germination is usually within three weeks. Seedlings are slow-growing and are best planted out once they are large enough to handle. Propagation from leaf cuttings is best undertaken in spring. Allow the leaf cutting to form a heel by placing it on a dry window sill for 1-3 weeks. Cuttings are best rooted in a small container in a well-drained medium. Once rooted, plantlets will appear at the base of the leaf--these can be detached once they are strong and large enough to handle. Feed plants with organic plant food (compost or any other liquid fertilizer). Gasteria thunbergii can be watered at any time of the year, but watering should be reduced during winter.