Java Edition:Sugar Cane on Any Block
From Alpha v1.0.11 to Beta 1.4_01, sugar cane could be placed on any block using block replacement bypass. Later,[test] Update Suppression could also be used to achieve the same effect.
Obtaining
Block Replacement Bypass
To place sugar cane on any block (including air), place water, lava or fire on the block first and quickly switch to and place sugar cane into it. If the sugar cane replaces the liquid source blocks before it, the sugar cane will not have a block update and will stay on the block. A slab or other block should be placed above where the sugar cane will be before the sugar cane is placed. Having this block above the sugar cane will prevent the sugar cane from growing and therefore the sugar cane will not pop off of the block.
Update Suppression
Using update suppression, any block can be put underneath sugar cane. The easiest method to do this is to use an armageddon block(Piston:7/15) and a redstone power source, however this only works until 1.8 due to the removal of 6 sided pistons. First, the player must update suppress the removal of the soil that the sugar cane is on, and after that, the player must update suppress once again with the placement of the block desired under the sugar cane. This method still works to 24w33a (present).