How to Propagate Yellow Bell Bush

Seeds

• 1

  Gather seed pods when they begin to turn brown and dry in autumn. Don't wait too long; if the pods become completely dry, they split and spill the seeds on the ground for birds to eat. Break open the pods and remove the seeds or put the pods in a paper sack in a warm, well-ventilated room until they are dry enough to split on their own.

• 2

  Fill a 3-inch pot with a fast-draining seed starting mix, such as three parts peat moss, one part fine pine bark and one part perlite. Plant the seeds on the surface of the soil, allowing about one-half to 1 inch between each seed. Cover the seeds with one-quarter inch of fine gravel and water lightly with a watering can or spray bottle.

• 3

  Place the pot in low light, where the temperature is consistently about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually, seeds germinate and reach a height of 1 to 2 inches within six to eight weeks.

• 4

  Remove the seedlings from the pot and tease the roots apart carefully. Plant each seedling in a 3-inch pot filled with regular commercial potting soil. Water lightly and return the plant to the same warm, semi-shady environment.

• 5

  Allow the yellow bell seedlings to mature for about a month, then harden the plants gradually. Place them outdoors in a shady location and move them into bright light for two or three hours for one or two days. Gradually increase the time in sunlight until the plants are acclimated to bright light all day. Hardening off usually takes about 10 days to two weeks.

• 6

  Plant the new yellow bell plants in a sunny, well-drained area of your garden.

Softwood Cuttings

• 7

  Cut several 4- to 6-inch stems from a healthy, actively growing yellow bell bush, using pruners or a sharp knife. Pinch off all but the top two leaves, then cut the remaining two leaves in half horizontally. Use the tip of the knife to scrape a sliver of outer bark from the bottom one-fourth inch of each stem.

• 8

  Fill a 3-inch pot with equal parts fine pine bark and peat or use a celled planting tray with 3-inch cells.

• 9

  Poke a planting hole in the center of each pot or cell, using a narrow stick or the eraser end of a pencil. Dip the bottom half-inch of the stem in rooting hormone -- powder, liquid or gel. Plant a stem in each hole just deep enough that the stem stands upright. Water lightly to settle the planting mix.

• 10

  Cover the pot or tray with clear plastic to create a warm, humid growing environment. If necessary, place a few sticks or plastic straws in the pot to raise the plastic above the leaves.

• 11

  Place the cuttings in a warm, shady location. The cuttings root fastest with bottom heat. If you have a heat mat, set the thermostat between 64 and 70 F. Check the cuttings at least once or twice every week and mist inside the bag if the potting mixture feels dry. The cuttings generally root during the winter months in six to 10 weeks.

• 12

  Transplant each cutting into a 3-inch pot filled with regular commercial potting soil. Place the pots in bright sunlight and water the potting soil as needed to keep the soil lightly moist.

• 13

  Allow the young yellow bell plants to mature for two or three years before planting them in their permanent outdoor location.