FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Once traps start turning black, do you guys trim the trap off?

Do you wait for the entire stem to turn black and then trim or pull it out?

Recommendations?

For me, I have been waiting for the entire stem to turn black and then eventually pulling them out. But I see some people saying that the plant is using energy which could be used for the rest of the plant. Thoughts?

If the leaf is green, it is performing photosythesis and providing energy to the rest of the plant. Wait until it is completely dead before removing it.

wait until they're a very crumbly or until they start to mold, if it's yellow the plant could be taking back the energy and nutrients so that it doesn't waste any energy. search up "ghost cephalotus" on the flytrap care fourms and there's an nice example on how the plant takes back energy and stuff. you can trim the black/brown parts whenever you want though

In summer, I'm more aggressive about trimming.

On a barely-hanging-in-there indoor vft, go with the common advice to wait until the leaf is completely withered, then pull off. Same with plants in dormancy: give it all the leaf surface possible.

But on healthy outdoor plants during the growing season, I prefer to do a frequent grooming inspection (at home all day during pandemic) and give my plants the spa treatment. I use little skinny scissors to trim a leaf in sections, cutting away what's black and leaving the rest, to keep the plants looking their most impressive.

If this has compromised the plants, I sure can't tell. They are growing well. And they look so attractive, which is why I have them in the first place.

schmeg wrote: ↑Tue Jul 28, 2020 8:39 pm In summer, I'm more aggressive about trimming.

But on healthy outdoor plants during the growing season, I prefer to do a frequent grooming inspection (at home all day during pandemic) and give my plants the spa treatment.

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Schmeg i do this too i think its called obsessive compulsive disorder lol.

schmeg wrote: ↑Tue Jul 28, 2020 8:39 pm

But on healthy outdoor plants during the growing season, I prefer to do a frequent grooming inspection (at home all day during pandemic) and give my plants the spa treatment. I use little skinny scissors to trim a leaf in sections, cutting away what's black and leaving the rest, to keep the plants looking their most impressive.

So if the trap is black, but the stem is green, you've been cutting off the trap only? So basically it just looks like a green stem coming out of soil/moss?

rikos4ey wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:05 pmSo if the trap is black, but the stem is green, you've been cutting off the trap only? So basically it just looks like a green stem coming out of soil/moss?

Yep, that's right. Among a dozen or more other leaves, the trapless leaf isn't noticeable. The big healthy green/red traps are what draw the eye.