No, pinching back is done to create bushiness and frankly very few plants need it. The only care begonias need is water after it dries a bit and regular fertilizer--water soluble every 2 weeks or time release when you plant.

You can snip that stem or pinch it off. Frankly I'd rather pinch--it's just easier.

Look at it this way. The more branches a blooming plant has, the more area where blooms have to develop. I don't pinch mine routinely, but shall about once a season after the first big flush of growth. It's optional and up to you.

Thanks for the posts and advice. This is a plant that I adore, and I would like her to look her best.

I don't mind putting in the extra effort, however, this plant is said to grow as if on steroids. What I cannot due is change the location, and exposure probably has the biggest impact on number of blooms.

The plants are fuller with healthy green growth... sounds like a case of less direct sun!

Similar thing happened to my Dwarf Dahlias and Wax Begonias... they were in the shaded area of balcony and received less than an hour of direct sun, since i raised them from seeds I thought they may take longer to bloom but in mid season I realized that they were not DWARF anymore!!! Dahlia were over 2' very full and lush green foliage with not single flower bud, begonias were in similar condition but were blooming very scarcely (imagine 3 blooms on a foot long plant with multiple branches)

As we had to put chairs in that shaded place I moved these to the front where they bathed in sun daily for more than 3 hours... the Dwarf dahlias had to be staked...lol

Within 15 days there were 4 blooms on an average and uncountable buds on each of my Dahlias and Wax begonias was literally overloaded with blooms.

The Dahlias were Figaro mixed and Wax Begonias were Super Olympia mixed for a reference.

Izhar

you may be interfering with normal growth with all the fertilizers you are adding ...

reduction of flowering with increased vegetative growth is a possible sign of too much nitrogen ...

seriously.. i have a 3 foot hosta.. that has NEVER gotten as much fert as you have inflicted on thee small plants ..

you are on the verge of loving the things to death ...

relax.. water them.. and let them do their things.. without fert.. without repotting.. just ignore them for a few weeks ... but for water .. and maybe they will bounce back with some new flowers ...

you can root all the cut backs.. in a glass of water.. and as soon as you see small roots.. pot them up and keep them in the shade ...

ken

Izhar, you may have something there because I understand that even the most shade loving plants need a few hours direct sunlight. I had a feeling the spot chosen may pose a problem. I needed a planting for a sheltered spot and I thought I might have some success with this begonia. I wouldn't be able to move her to find out if this idea is correct since my space is limited. I guess I had a feeling about it initially, and that's probably why I thought about pinching back as soon as I planted.

Ken I am careful not to over water every 7 to 10 days and I like to use Dyna gro Grow 7 9 5 for all my plants and orchids; it makes things easier and more affordable not to have to use different fertilizers. I have added superthrive only to one watering.

What I am going to stop doing is misting with a very dilute solution of fert water. I have 2 spray bottles (plain and fert) and I mist on occasion to perk up some of my plants. If it is a fert issue as you say, maybe she will show some progress if I just use the plain bottle. Additionally, I will reduce fertilizer to once a month.

I hadn't thought about the cut backs; thanks for suggesting, I will definitely try to root a couple.