Gasterias are recognisable from their thick, hard, succulent "tongue-shaped" leaves. Gasteria are grown in well-drained, sandy soils in light shade. They can be propagated by off-sets and cuttings. They are also commonly propagated by seed. Germination usually occurs within 8 days but may take as long as one month, depending on the species.To propagate by leaf cuttings, remove a leaf and let it lie for about one month (e.g. in a cool window sill), giving the wound time to heal. Then lay the leaf on its side with the basal part buried in the soil. This leaf should root within a month or two, and small plants will form at the leaf base. Young plants can be harvested the following season. They can also grown from seed. Seed should be sown during summer in sandy well drained soil and preferably protected from full sun. The seedlings are slow growing and can be planted out in small containers when they are large enough to handle. The soil should preferably be enriched with compost. They react very well to a liquid organic fertilizer.
