It is best to grow Roridula gorgonias by seed since seedlings will produce stronger plants. These plants are treated very much like fynbos plants such as ericas. Treat the seeds with the Kirstenbosch Smoke Primer and sow on a well-drained sandy mix of 50 % sand or silica grit and 50 %

peat. The seeds must be kept moist but not wet. It will take approximately one month for the seeds to germinate. The seedlings can be pricked out but late germination does occur, so allow more time for the remaining seeds to germinate. When pricking out the seedlings, do not disturb the roots. Pot them into small pots, using the same mix of sand or silica grit and peat. The watering remains the same.

Roridula gorgonias can be propagated by tip or stem cuttings. Place the cuttings in a sand or peat medium after having dipped the freshly cut ends of the stems in a rooting hormone. To increase the humidity, cover the tray with a plastic cover. The use of bottom heating increases the rooting percentage. Once the cuttings have rooted and had a week to harden off, pot them into the same mix as used for the seedlings. Place the plants in a sunny, well-aerated area.

It is not recommended to use any fertilizers, insecticides or fungicides on these plants since roridulas are very sensitive. If assassin bugs, which help with the feeding of these plants, cannot be found, then try a very weak foliar feed high in nitrogen.

Acknowledgements Thanks to Monique McQuillan, horticulturist, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, for generously sharing information from her own observations, experience and research.