Beginner success with Heliconia — here is what helped

As a complete beginner I was nervous about starting with Heliconia. It turned out to be more forgiving than I expected, as long as I paid attention to maintaining temperatures above 15°C throughout the year.

I grow mine in a summer patio with shelter from wind and cold nights which is working really well. dramatic large leaves or flowers that create an instant impact was a genuine surprise — I didn't expect it to look or perform like that. active growth flush when moved outdoors in early summer has been the highlight so far. My biggest mistake early on was ignoring spider mite infestations in hot dry conditions, which I'd recommend addressing immediately.