How to Transplant Abutilon

Take cuttings of the Chinese lantern plant in March if you want potted plants in winter; take cuttings in August for planting outdoors the following spring. Using sharp clippers, snip off 4- to 6-nch lengths from the tips of branches.

Strip the lower leaves from your cuttings and then dip the stems in rooting hormone. Insert one or two stems into each 3- or 4-nch pot filled with standard potting soil. Keep your cuttings moist and in an area where the temperature is between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit without direct sun: expect roots to form within three to four weeks.

Fill 6-inch pots with potting soil and water them until the soil is saturated and water runs from the drainage hole. Dig a hole just large enough for the stem with its roots. Insert one rooted stem into the soil of each pot. Begin to gradually introduce the plant to more direct sunlight by placing it in a sunny spot for about 30 minutes the first day, then increasing the length of exposure by about 30 minutes each day thereafter. Keep the plant as a houseplant or wait until it grows a bit larger, when you can plant it outdoors.

Move your well-established Chinese lantern to its outdoor location after the final spring frost. Dig a planting hole twice the size of the root system in a sunny area and transfer the soil to a wheelbarrow. Combine approximately one part organic compost with each four parts of soil. Refill the planting hole with your soil and compost mixture then dig a hole in the center that is large enough for your plant's roots. Set it in the hole and fill with additional soil, patting it down gently to secure the plant. Water the area well by running a sprinkler for 15 to 20 minutes.