Protea nana can be propagated from seed or cuttings. Seed-grown plants tend to be more vigorous than those grown from cuttings. It is important to select fertile seed which are fat, whereas unfertile seed show no substance. Sow the seed in late summer to autumn, between March and May, in a well-drained, coarse, sandy soil, mixed with decomposed pine bark or a commercial fynbos soil mix. The growing media should be acidic with a pH between 5 and 6.7. The drop of night temperature in late summer to autumn is important to help stimulate the germination of fynbos seed. You may treat the seed by dusting with a systemic fungicide containing the active ingredient metalaxyl to prevent damping-off of seedlings. It is preferable rather to sterilize the soil with hot water as indiscriminate use of this fungicide has resulted in severe resistance problems. After sowing, sprinkle a light layer of sand to cover any exposed seed. Keep the soil moist, but do not overwater. Allow the soil to dry out a little between watering. Protect the seed from disturbance by covering with a wire grid. Seed should germinate from about 6 weeks on producing fleshy cotyledons, followed by true leaves. Pot out seedlings at the cotyledon stage or when the first true leaves appear. Seedlings should not be over potted, i.e. they should be potted into compartmentalized trays or small bags or pots. Young plants are placed under the protection of light shade 40%, to harden off and develop.

Protea nana can also be propagated from cuttings. They may be propagated from November to April selecting semi-hardwood heel cuttings. Select the disease-free cutting material, 200 to 250 mm long, taking upright-growing lateral shoots. Dip the cutting in a liquid rooting hormone for 5 seconds or apply a powder hormone to the cut surface. Place your cuttings in multi-trays in a well-drained and aerated medium of 70% perlite and 30% fine bark or coarse sand and finely milled pine bark. Cuttings are normally rooted on benches heated between 24º and 30ºC and regularly treat the cuttings with a fungicide to prevent fungal infection. Maintain hygiene by removing dead leaves and wilting cuttings. Rooting cutting of Protea nana is not as easy as pincushions and some other proteas and the cutting can take 3 months to root.

Protea nana grows in well-drained, nutrient-poor soils. Apply an organic seaweed-based fertilizer to encourage the sensitive proteoid roots to develop. Avoid using the chemical fertilizers containing high levels phosphorus, as proteas are sensitive to this. Phosphate toxicity can affect the young growth, causing scorching or necrosis and yellowing of the leaves.

Keep the soil cooler and moister during the hot dry season by mulching around the plants with pure decomposed compost or pine needles. Un-decomposed wood chips may carry detrimental root fungi such as Phytopthora or Armillaria which will kill the plants. Protea nana may be lightly pruned by removing the growth tips which will encourage branching and the development of more flowers.

Protea nana seems to be quite difficult to maintain in cultivation unless given specific conditions. It requires a garden position where it has well-drained, acidic soil, full sunlight and good aeration. It grows well in gardens where it is placed on a slope or in a rockery. It has a relatively short life span of approximately ten years which may be extended by good management, such as regular light pruning and feeding.