HCMcDole knows his stuff about begonias... altho I planted mine in the ground in a bed and I was thrilled with the result. They were quite easy - I did water frequently because they were in a fair amount of sun...

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This was a 3" by 18" 'window box' on the shed... I had a few extra plants (3) I thought I'd throw them in and I NEVER took care of them - dried out, etc. and they still looked GOOD!

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I'm not knocking what was suggested, but they can also take a beating too.

What about pruning? I have been keeping my first one of these plants all winter. It's doing well but it isn't full and lush like the photos posted here. How can I produce a fuller plant?

Once the weather warms up, take it outside in some bright shade. It will fill in over the summer. Regular fertilizing helps but don't over do. I have had success with Ironite or 1/4 strength miracle gro. They also do well planted directly in the ground but that makes it a little more difficult to bring in.

Pruning can make for a thicker plant and can cause new growth to emerge from below the soil; basal growth. I read somewhere that some dragon wings if not pruned early will never have thick / bushy growth. I have had some that I didn't prune and they did just fine.
Also if they get directly overhead light they grow tall and narrower but if they recieve the light from the side they will grow wider.

In my experience babywing begonia are more vigorus, drought tolerant and can take more sun than dragonwings they also recover from winter much quicker.

Don't get me wrong I still like dragon wings. If you view them as more like succulents that thrive on the edge of neglect rather than tropical plants you will have succes.

Brad's Begonia World has alot of information on Begonias a tip the info on Dragon wings used to be under Cane begonias.

Family

I have a beautiful plant in a reasonably large plastic container under a pergola. There is adequate light and warmth and the flowers look lovely. I have a question however and it is regarding the leaves. Should they or do they change colour to a rusty or wine-coloured red/orange?

I've seen some that get bronzy leaves but not sure if it is from a lot of sun, maybe some cold, or just aging leaves. I usually keep mine in full sun and water them religiously without much bronzing at all.

Here is a photo of a couple that showed bronzing and it was sitting on my driveway all summer long and only got the hot western sun exposure. Others in the backyard that got full southern exposure never showed bronzing. Weird?

Yet another six planted in a bed got full day sun from almost sunrise to sunset shows no bronzing.

do i bring it it the house in winter i live in michigan if i bring it in how do i care for it

Yes, do bring it indoors for winter if you want to overwinter them. They will definitely die outdoors especially in MI.

If they are in a pot then clean the pot up; remove ugly, damaged, old leaves; look for bugs and remove by hand or brush; spray for bugs if needed; and fertilize now if you want extra growth before bringing indoors. Put them under lights 12 hours a day or next to a bright window. Water as needed. That should get them through winter with ease.

I have been bringing in my pot of a big dragon wing begonia and a small double wax begonia and putting it in front of a window and it has done well for several years now. This year in that same pot with the begonia I have diamond frost euphorbia. Do you think it will live in this pot and do as well as the begonia just being placed in a window? Also, I cut the plant back by about a third to a half. Is that not necessary?

Diamond Frost will survive but may need higher light levels - it will get very leggy if the light levels are too low. I lost mine after two years but I have the weedier Euphorbia that often pops up in many pots and the cracks in our flagstone patio.

Cutting your plant back by a third to half should not hurt but if you have overhead space (if you use lights) then you don't have to cut back either.

The easiest thing to do is treat it as an annual and buy new vigorous plants in the spring.

Here is a nice little purple Euphorbia I got as a hitchhiker many years ago from an order to GHW (one of my freebies that actually is still around after many, many years).

and my fat fingers to show scale of the leaf

how do you regard cutting the dried up winter growth off in a intense Israeli heat? is that safe ?or will i kill the plant?

thanks hcmcdole! I will consider the tips!

This is a reply to an earlier question about the bronzing of dragon wing leaves. It is a signal that you need to fertilize. I use miracle grow or peters water soluble fertilizer and Epsom salt. I reduce the strength of the fertilizer but use it frequently.

Familyman2004, yes , fertilizer IS the "key" for this begonia. In addition, I recommend very minimal direct sun.

Here are pics of mine that loved the small planters that they were in on my porch. I guess they don't need much room for the roots! All I used all summer was one application of Osmocoate.

how do I care for this after I bring it inside for winter?

I just cut mine back some (for limited space) and watered when dry. Put it in a window. Its very hearty, although by the end of winter it could look scraggly. It revived beautifully when put back outside in spring.