Streptocarpus vandeleurii is not as easy to grow as most other Streptocarpus species and is seldom seen in gardens due to its unavailability in the trade and because it can be difficult to grow in home garden conditions.

It must be grown as a pot plant either indoors or on a protected verandah, or in a sheltered garden area. Ensure a warm spot with good light but no direct sunlight. In general, Streptocarpus species are very sensitive to light, and are easily burned by the sun. Light shade with good ventilation is best for growing healthy plants with plenty of flowers.

Watering Streptocarpus should be done with care. It is very important that the plants should not be overwatered to prevent rotting and fungal problems. Allow them to get quite dry between watering. They can be allowed to wilt slightly as they have the ability to recover very well from this. Be aware that severe wilting can be a sign of root rot caused by overwatering, so check the medium to see that this is not the case. With Streptocarpus vandeleurii the leaf is large and tends to cover most of the available surface of the soil in a pot. It is therefore better to stand the pot in a tray and to water from the bottom. This also prevents the leaf getting wet each time you water which reduces the probability of fungal problems. During the warm summers, when the plants are actively growing, they need plenty of water. Most of the Streptocarpus species 'rest' during winter and because of this slight dormancy they need very little water during this stage.

The tips of the leaves often die off as they get older and when stressed by drought or low temperature or when overwintering. This survival tactic does not harm the plants as, although the dead ends may look unattractive, the leaves simply form an abscission layer and continue with new growth from the base. Regular feeding during the growing season with liquid foliar feed is recommended.

All propagation is best done in spring which is the start of the growing season. Streptocarpus vandeleurii can easily be grown from seed, and this is the recommended method of propagation. Leaf cuttings will not meet with success as the leaf is monocarpic.

For sowing seed, mix a pinch of the dust-like seed with a small amount of sand to assist with spreading the seed evenly and to prevent sowing too densely. Use a well drained medium that is not too coarse. Cover the sown seed with a very thin layer of fine sand and keep out of direct sun but in warmth. Germination usually takes 3-4 weeks. It is important to not allow the seedlings to dry out, so water regularly with a fine spray. Better germination results are often obtained if the seed tray is covered with a glass sheet or enclosed in a clear plastic packet which keeps the soil surface constantly damp.

Plant the seedlings into small pots only once they are quite big and strong. Transplant again into bigger pots once the plant's roots appear at the bottom of the small pots. But note that with Streptocarpus it is better to under-pot than to over-pot as most of them have shallow root systems and in their natural habitats most often grow in very little soil, if any at all.

The potting medium we use at Kirstenbosch consists of the following: 1 part good compost : 1 part coarse sand : 1 part palm-cocos fibre/peat. Add a small amount of organic fertilizer.

Caterpillars are the most troublesome pests on Streptocarpus. They can either be hand-collected or sprayed with a suitable poison.

Mealy bug often plague the plants as well, particularly if the growing conditions or plant care are less than ideal.

Fungal infections are also a cause for concern. If fungus is found on any part of the plant treat with a suitable fungicide, improve the air circulation and take extra care not to overwater.

Streptocarpus plants are usually only prone to pests and diseases when they are not being treated or grown correctly. Any plant that is stressed is more likely to come under attack. So avoid the following to reduce the occurrence of problems: overwatering, underfeeding, rootbound plants, lack of good air movement/circulation.