Ooh I never knew there was one. Photos?

Not sure if I can embed images from this site, so here's a link: http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/subs/beg-par-sub.asp

They're really great looking plants and I'd like to make not killing it a priority.

They're really great looking plants and I'd like to make not killing it a priority

Even where the species grows naturally this plant is just a hardy annual that grows from seed. You cant stop growing it or it dies at the same time it needs to stop growing sooner or later.

If there is a small loop hole in the system good luck finding it but understand that all plants become dormant or have a period of rest.

This is why they preference to not grow them on the other GW begonia forum. The Caudex Begonias while resting or dormant is very commonly drowning to it's rot from it's own stored water in it's caudex.

"Even where the species grows naturally this plant is just a hardy annual that grows from seed. You cant stop growing it or it dies at the same time it needs to stop growing sooner or later."

So, they die after a single growing season, even in situ..?

Or are you saying that it's deciduous, and that I should reduce watering and force it to lose its leaves?

Well I guess a plantt that produces a caudex that big needs more than one year to do it so they cant be annuals!

{{gwi:680414}}

I don't think any Begonias are true annuals, and have never heard the term hardy annual.

You kind of answered your own question, don't let it get too dry or too hot, if you think these factors killed your previous plants.

Good pot size and a nice trunk too. It might not be as old as you think
Pic of B. dragei at ten months old

"You kind of answered your own question, don't let it get too dry or too hot, if you think these factors killed your previous plants."

That's the thing -- even though I'm trying to address these issues, I'm still getting a lot of leaf loss. Then again, maybe that's just how the plant is.

Would there be any harm in pruning back some of the branches that show a lot of leaf loss?

Then again, maybe that's just how the plant is

Most plants are the same just as you said THATS how the plant is they flower, they drop seedling, they loose leaves they go dormant , or they rest.
When should it start it's next growing cycle ? Considering the plant doesn't know where it is chances are better that it wont. Try to collect it's seedlings

Plants that go dormant usually stop being dormant when whatever made them go dormant in the first place changes. If it's temperature that triggers dormancy, they break dormancy when it warms up. If it's photoperiod, they break dormancy when days get longer. If it's drought related, they break dormancy when there's water again. I've not typically had issues with succulents breaking dormancy.

If they actually are genetically programmed to die after flowering once, they're monocarps. I'm not aware of begonias being monocarpic.

From what I've read, caudiciform begonias will lose their leaves and stems and go dormant as a drought response, but do not have a required dormant period, and would not go dormant outside of reacting to excessive stress.

The only begonias that I'm seeing that has an 'enforced' dormant period are tuberous begonias which, to the best of my knowledge, are different from the caudiciform begonias.

If you have any documents that you could link to that show that caudiciform begonias DO have a seasonal dormant period, and specifically what triggers them, that would be greatly appreciated since that would probably explain what's going on.

I've not typically had issues with succulents breaking dormancy.

Typically no begonia is a succulent even though a caudiform Begonia origin is S. African doesn't make it a succulent.

When the plant doesn't know where it is means: Typically the seasons of S. Africa are nearly the opposite of England. Suggesting the plant would be breaking it's dormancy around this time of year not going dormant.

You have a typical garden shop product purchased from a mass producing hot house somewhere where they trick all kinds of plants into growing to look the way they do when you see them. Understand that if they didn't look the way it did you might not of purchased it. Big hot house business is all it amounts to and how they dont want to loose a sale. Chances are this is also the a reason why they glue fake straw flowers topping other cacti.

I have grown these guys before and had enormous luck. I pruned them regularly and grew them under lights. The only problem I ever had was they are prone to powdery mildew. I hav let them dry out and they drop lots of leaves but then just water and they pop right back. I have not found them to be fussy or to need a dormancy

Oh hey it has powdery mildew. I wonder if that's causing the defoliation. Any ideas on how to control that? Currently planning on debranching it, spraying it with diluted milk solution (as per comments on the begonia forum here), and going with that.

Does PM go after roots, or is it just foliage?

I don't think anything growing near it should be too susceptible so I'm not that concerned about it spreading.