I grow mine outdoors in summer where it can put on a lot of growth. Lots of light will get it dark green and help it bloom. I have one that I put in full sun (up to around 1 or 2 in the afternoon) that is flowering greatly and another one I put in a huge pot with other canes in late summer (last month) that gets morning and late afternoon direct sun. It and the other canes have darkened tremendously from their previous spots in much more shade. I fertilized them with granular fertilizer this summer and I think this has helped tremendously as well.

You should have great luck with yours as long as you give it plenty of light, keep it fed, and water when it needs it.

Here is the one I recently potted up with several other canes including Cracklin Rosie, Sophie Cecile, and Silvermist.

This one is just showing the backside of it under the deck stairs. The other blooming cane is just a common variety but I keep it anyway.

And a close up of the first photo.

Beautiful! I hope mine looks that good eventually. It'll get put outside next summer but right now I have it inside under lights. How do you root cuttings? Just in water?

You can water root them or just put them in a good potting mix. Canes are probably the easiest to root of all the begonias. You can break or cut a cane (keeping at least a couple of nodes) and push the stem in a potting mix to cover at least the bottom node.

If you water root, check the water every day for "souring". This can get very rife with germs which will cause the stems to rot. Change daily is best. Another way to do it is put a barrier between the "air" and the water. A piece of plastic wrap or aluminum foil works fairly well. Usually this keeps the water almost germ free and you just need to add water as it gets low. The other way is to put a baggie over the plant and the vessel holding the water - this would be the preferred method. At least this is my theory on germs in the air quickly growing in stagnant water and a cut plant.

Check Brad Thompson's guide on propagating canes for a complete description.

Brad's propagation page

If you have a lot to propagate you can minimize pots by doing a community pot (tray). I use aluminum trays and punch holes in the bottom for drainage, fill with good potting mix, and stick my cuttings. I place these under lights and into another tray with no holes for a drip tray or outdoors under shade with no drip trays. Here is a photo of such a community tray.

hcmcdole, What is the begonia that has very spotted leaves and red underneath, it absolutely beautiful..and Jessie, you have yourself a beautiful "My special Angel"..i bet you have this plant many years..molly

sewnmom, that would be Cracklin' Rosie. I've never seen it bloom but most folks are contented with its leaf curliness showing both upper surface and under surface (some say underwear).

Here is a photo of one cane from last spring.

Oh my land , how pretty, do you have a cane or two to trade? also your red/purple/black.. that one also is to die for.. do you have any of that to spare..plmk, molly

None to spare at this time. Lynda Dawn is long gone (mildew magnet), Maurice Amey is a mildew magnet too and is a shell of itself. Cracklin' Rosie is doing good but I'd like to get some more stock before trading/selling.

Check out Taylor Greenhouse, Kartuz, Steve's Leaves, and eBay.

I'm sorry to report that I'm not having much success with this plant. Its lost a lot of leaves and is not happy. All my other plants are fine. Maybe Im not watering it frequently enough, Im not sure. Its under a grow light and in front of a North facing window.

I water mine at least once a week indoors, sometimes more. I'd say the key is to not let it go bone dry and don't keep it soggy wet either. Here is a photo of mine under lights last winter. Anyway, as long as the stem remains healthy, you will still be okay. Watch for mildew on the stems and spray if it gets heavy with it.

Yeah, I think this is one plant that is not thriving on my about once a week watering schedule...I will have to pay more attention to her. The stem is fine and def no mildew.