show symptoms of, sprout, bud, malt
萠 centers on the early visible stage of growth: a sprout or bud emerging, showing the first signs of something developing. The malt sense is a specific application where grain is sprouted.
萠 is a variant form of 萌. It combines 艹 (grass) with 朋, which likely contributes a sound element. The character expresses the idea of plants beginning to grow.
Grass 艹 above 朋, like two crescent moons side by side, suggests tiny paired sprouts pushing up through the soil. Picture two little buds emerging together.
For ホウ, imagine a hopeful sprout breaking through the earth: hope -> ホウ, and the sprout shows the first sign of life.