When you got it good, you got it good. Seems to me Steve you got it real good. LOL. I can say that you can grow most Gingers or Heliconias out here in Riverside, Ca. But!!! from my experience they have to be grown in large pots.Are soil is just no good for Tropicals of these types. Its true are air out here is dry,but i combat that with frequent dousing of the leaves
I move the pots to a wind protected are of my yard when the Santa Ana winds blow.I have noticed that are summers are becoming more and more humid.I remove the bottoms of the pots for better drainage, and in the winter i have a large insulated shed that i put my plants in when the temps dip below 45Fdegrees.So far so good for me.Its alot of work,but when you see the blooms of these plants, its so worth it.