They bloom in spring when its still cool, so that helps with the longevity of the blooms. If I recall correctly, seems mine bloomed for about 3 weeks. It had 3 bloom stalks this year (it has only produced 1 each year in the past), and they opened in succession, so it may have gone a little longer than that. Keep in mind if you grow it indoors, they need to be cool in winter, and kept on the dry side, in order to bloom. Once I see the bud emerging, looking strange the way it appears smashed between leaves, that's when I start giving it more water.
The variegated ones are gorgeous, but like you, the price has kept me from trying one. They're said to grow much slower than green leaved varieties. Definitely a good idea to start with a less expensive variety to see how it performs for you.
