If you have an unusual wax begonia you'd like to propagate for next year, you could try growing cuttings (or a small heavily cut back plant) in pots in a high-top plastic dome. You might be able to keep the soil moist inside one of these for a few weeks while you're away. The better domes have adjustable ventilation and cost about $7-8 each. They fit over standard-sized plastic flats.

Thanks for the idea, Eric. It's been years since I used anything like that, and I should definitely go back to it. I certainly have nothing to lose.

I hope you'll try the frige experiment also, and let us know what happens.

I will. When my son moved this summer he didn't want to take his old "garage" frig; DH remembered that I had complained that our garage was too warm for storing my dahlia tubers and that I was going to look for a free frig on CL, so he brought it home for me. A full sized frig! For nothing but my gardening stuff! So in addition to dahlia tubers and some tender bulbs, I'm sticking in geraniums, fuschia, and I'll try 2 of the wax begonias. I might find some other stuff to try, too, as I clean up the flower beds.

The fibrous rooted or 'wax begonia' here last for years through winter temperatures in the mid twenties. Touring France a few years ago we were pleased to see them frequently used in 'roundabout' plantings where care is very minimal. Al

I've been overwintering a wax begonia someone gave me for a few years now. I save one to keep on a bookcase next to a lamp(with a compact flo bulb). It tries to put out small flowers occasionally through the winter, but I pinch them off. The leaves get lush and it makes a nice houseplant. In the spring I split it into 3 or 4 plants and use them in different areas.
Maybe you could keep a pot of it and try a wicking watering system while you travel. I haven't tried it myself, but here's a link to wicking info on the African Violet forum via a search on the Houseplant forum...HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: wicking info

Al - the French roundabout plantings would not be left out over the winter. They are summer bedding plants. Usually Begonia semperflorens are grown from seed every year for this purpose.

mytime - you say "I travel a lot in the winter.." I don't blame you ;) Zone 3/4 brrrr.