Should I divide this Paphiopedilum?

[Evaldas5211]

Hello, I came here for a little advice.

Today I was able to buy a beautiful Paphiopedilum American hybrid plant very inexpensively, because it had finished blooming.

It has about 10 growths at various stages, two of which had finished blooming.

I would like to repot it as soon as possible, and my question is whether I should divide the plant?

I don't mind many growths in one pot and it's not necessary to have multiple pots of the same plant, but I would like to do what is best for the plant. Also, a clump of about three growths seems to be already independent from the other part is it best to pot it separately or together?

Please see pictures attached of the plant.

Thank you!

[estación seca]

Welcome! What a beautiful Paph.

Bigger plants = more flowers.

[PaphMadMan]

I wouldn't be surprised if the plant has virtually divided itself already, but whether to keep it together is up to you.

It does not need to be divided unless it simply gets too big to manage. Remember that a larger pot will take longer to dry out in the middle and adjust your media or watering accordingly. Large plants kept together can produce many flowers at once.

If you do divide it, try to make sure that each piece has at least 2 mature growths and a new start. That gives you plants that should grow and flower in season with no set-backs. The best time to repot (and divide if you are going to) is when young growths are putting out new roots, or about to.

[MrHappyRotter]

Echo echo echo. Just echoing the other statements. If you divide, keep at least a few growths in each division. If there are 10 growths, ideally you'd have 5 and 5. I'd normally say leave it be, but with 10 growths, you may want to divide just so you have a backup in case one of them gets sick or dies. There's a good chance that the plant has already self divided. When you get it out of the pot, you'll be able to tell if some of the pieces have detached.

[Fairorchids]

With single bloom Paphs, it is OK to create divisions of about 2 growths each. For multi-florals, you should go for min 3-4 growths each (they tend to need that much plant to bloom well).

If you can fit the plant into a reasonable sized pot, there is no pressing need to divide this time - unless it has divided itself.