Water frequently so that the compost is always moist. Less water in winter. Feed regularly with a balanced house plant food. Place in strong light with some shading from strong overhead summer sun, which may burn leaves. Temperatures should not fall below 10°C (50°F). For plants to keep their colour and not to grow too tall and leggy, regularly pinch out the growing tips and remove any flowers. They will survive the winter with reduced watering and can be cut back and re-potted in spring.

Solenostemon monostachyus has numerous medicinal uses. The leaf sap is considered sedative and stomachic and is applied internally to treat colic, convulsions, fever, headache and cough, especially in children, and externally against eyesight troubles and aphthae. Leaves are used to treat dysmenorrhoea, haematuria, female sterility, rheumatism, foot infections and snakebites. Roots are used to treat onchocerciasis (river-blindness, craw -craw). The plant has many ritual uses related to pregnancy.