---
title: "First time VFTer here and I need any help I can get! I bought her…"
description: "First time VFTer here and I need any help I can get! I bought her with a long flower stalk so I let it bloom. Well now that it bloomed it’s dead and turning…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/nCqjNmswTlS-vtdufEldHw/64a1c8c37c69af841bd09ba9"
community: "Carnivorous Corner"
author: "Laura"
published: "2023-07-02T18:58:11.343Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C2NhRM9kJUW0djA3YgP9DVA8qwU6VF20F1S_Vb2KJ1U/6cc572f2e2834594a55283a8f76a77f7.webp?size=large"
---

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# First time VFTer here and I need any help I can get! I bought her…

_Posted by Laura on 2023-07-02_

First time VFTer here and I need any help I can get! I bought her with a long flower stalk so I let it bloom. Well now that it bloomed it’s dead and turning black. Is it safe to assume I can cut it off now? The rest of the plant is getting kind of leggy and stringy looking…is this normal or do I need to intervene?

Typically I bottom water frequently with rainwater. Yes, I’m currently using a cake pan 🤦🏼‍♀️😬

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/C2NhRM9kJUW0djA3YgP9DVA8qwU6VF20F1S_Vb2KJ1U/6cc572f2e2834594a55283a8f76a77f7.webp?size=large)

## 3 comments

### JoeAndHisPlants commented on 2023-07-02

I’ve always read to cut the flower stalks before it even blooms as that takes a lot of energy for them to make if it’s a young Venus fly trap. To simply answer your question, it’s fine to cut it, even the dead traps! You may need bring it closer to the window tho.

#### Laura replied on 2023-07-02

Thank you! I was hung up on some things I read about cutting that stalk before it reaches 2-3” and it was already that size when I got it so I didn’t know what to do haha. I wish I found this community page earlier! Thanks again!

#### JoeAndHisPlants replied on 2023-07-02

Also, you can you use WHATEVER YOU WANT to water your plants haha. I realize plant saucers are a great use for that too!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/1bvknyRbE8eUKVkwXveayOTwXE-W9rxfQLI9V6uzt2s/2062236de1b24ec2ab843d84842c0aa8.webp?size=large)

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