This species is well suited to cultivation under ideal conditions. It is not frost tolerant and does best in high-rainfall areas and light shade. Temperatures ranging from 5ºC to 32ºC would suit this species.

Clivia robusta requires light shade, good drainage, regular feeding and watering to do well. It is well suited to shady situations and marshy areas in the garden. Steep banks are also ideal as this helps to provide good drainage, particularly in heavy soils. The roots of the plant also help to stabilize the bank. Suitable companion plants are Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. Katharinae, Crinum moorei, Plectranthus spp, Stangeria eriopus, Asparagus densiflorus and Encephalartos villosus.

Before planting, prepare the area well by digging over and applying a generous quantity of well-decomposed compost which needs to be dug in. Plant the clivias half a metre apart as they are tall, strong growers. To maintain good-quality plants and displays it is important to replant every five years. Thorough preparation of the site after lifting the C. robusta is essential. Dig over the area and then apply a liberal application of compost before replanting. It is also an opportunity at this time to divide the plants, to increase the size of the planting if necessary.

Each year in the autumn, apply a generous layer of compost around the plants. They derive a lot of benefit from this as they are not deep-rooting plants. In the summer an application of organic fertilizer can be broadcast around the root area of the plants. Alternatively, broadcast a layer of old manure around the root area.

Propagation of C. robusta is either from seed or division. As the berries start colouring, they can be harvested and all of the soft tissue should be removed. Before sowing, wash the seeds in a mild fungicide solution. The clean seeds can now be sown in a medium of milled pine bark by pressing them into the medium just below the surface. It is important to keep the bark moist at all times. This milled bark needs to be fairly fine when sowing seeds.

The seeds germinate within a month and after six months the seedlings should be transplanted into 15-cm pots, planting three to a pot to allow sufficient space for the plants to develop. A coarse growing medium of 12 mm bark must now be used.

Clivias are slow growers so it is important not to allow the young plants to stress as this slows down their growth. Stress is caused by lack of water, high light intensity, overheating, lack of food and poor drainage. Feed every two weeks with a general fertilizer at the recommended strength and replant the young plants at least once a year with fresh growing medium. All growing mediums deteriorate in time, as they become more compact, drainage deteriorates with the result that the roots start rotting because there is no longer any oxygen around the root area. So it is important to repot regularly until the plants are large enough to be planted in the garden.

Because of the environment in which clivias grow, slugs and snails are a problem, particularly when the flower buds start appearing. Bait needs to be scattered around the plants to eliminate the slugs and snails. Other pests are mealy bugs, amaryllis caterpillar, scale and snout beetle which all need to be eliminated by spraying with a suitable insecticide.