DENVER — Many types of begonias bloom throughout the year - in the garden and indoors if taken inside in fall. They're worth saving. If you did save them last fall, you can distract yourself from winter cold by caring for them. If you're mainly a windowsill gardener, begonias make rewarding houseplants.
Even in a sunny window, begonias will get leggy. Rejuvenate them by pruning them back. I cut back the 'Whopper' begonias that I keep in my living room several times during winter. This encourages the plants to stay bushy and rejuvenate from the base. They'll be ready to plant outside again in mid- to-late May. 'Whopper' begonias may have green or bronze leaves and pink or red flowers. Growing about two feet tall, they thrive in sun or part shade.
Wax begonias, such as the 'Bada Bing' or 'Senator' series, are usually sold in spring in four packs and are relatively inexpensive. They're worth saving in fall, however, because saved plants will be ten times the size of the four pack plants. Wax begonias are really easy to grow in sun or shade and are great as fillers in containers. Wax begonias may have green or bronze leaves and red, pink or white flowers. They grow six to twelve inches tall.
The fancy-leaf begonia 'Torch' is one of my favorites. The leaves have a deep red underside with silver and dark green on top. The profuse flowers are coral colored. This begonia is best grown in partial shade and grows about a foot tall. You may find sources for it online. Unlike most begonias, it can be propagated by rooting cuttings in water.
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