Chaz, if you have a place with the appropriate soil go ahead and plant it now. They can be picky. Water from the tap seems to bother them seriously and some say a certain microbe must be in the soil for them to grow so don't lose the soil it is in now. I was under the impression it was more a woodland plant like the trillium or Jack-in-the-Pulpit that like lots of duff and moisture. I suppose that could be marginal. You might want to check a plant encyclopedia about conditions. Sandy

Sandy, thanks. I spoke to a friend at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, in my zone it's going to be iffy at best so I'll have to plant it against a southern facing stone wall and it should do ok. He said not to put it in the pond only because it won't handle the wet solid freeze or being submerged all winter here, although it may in a warmer zone. It's not as picky as slipper orchids and the microbe is not as essential once they are underway. He said a nice humus rich soil with partial shade to prevent leaf burn at mid day and I'll wind up with a nice size clump in a few years.
Thanks again for answering and yep you're right Plant it now!
Chaz

I have attempted for years to grow it and fail each and every time. I keep telling myself I don't have the right conditions but then I see some of those little plastic packages with a tiny start and I fall for it again. Sigh...I guess I'll never learn. Best of luck to you. Sandy

I grow them in the garden with very good success but am not sure they would make it in a pond.