Once an individual plant blooms, that stem will wither and die. That does not mean you should cut the entire clump, only the spent bloom stalk. You were well advised, heliconias look better well groomed, with older leaves trimmed off. I believe trimming back bloomed out stalks allows the rhizome to put its energy into sending new shoots.

Bill

Hi
You can do it either way. I recently had to cut the heliconia in the shadehouse to the ground as I had to put on a new roof. That was in November and they are already over six feet tall again lol Had never pruned them except to remove dead canes. They only seem to flower on new growth. gary

Thanks Bill, Gary.