Not sure what you by "not new stems". I have successfully rooted sugar cane from the grocery store. Just plant a section of the cane into in a container with a well-draining soil--I would add extra sand. Don't bury the whole cane in the soil--just the bottom couple of inches. Keep it slighty moist and warm until it roots. I would place it on the south side of my house (black, plastic pots are useful here). Should root in a few weeks if the cane is fresh enough.

I never thought to try and root canes from the grocery store. I buy it at the Oriental market all the time. Should I allow the ends to dry out before planting or should they have a fresh cut?
Karyn

You don't have to cut the cane at all. If it is reasonably fresh, it will root from the internodes. Sort of reminds you of bamboo.

karyn If you ever want fresh cane I can send you a cutting or 2. Just lay the cane in fresh water (change daily) and untill shoots and roots develop. After that you can just drop it on the ground, but be advised, cane can grow up to 15 feet and is very invasive.

I like to stick the cane in a clear vase half way, add some dark stones makes a very decorative (and rare)center piece

Thanks for the offer Crabs. I did go to the grocery store today and picked up a cane. My question now is how do I tell which end is up? It's about 18" long and the same diameter along the entire length. I see what looks like some dried roots around each section. The sections are divided by a solid ring and a ring of little dots where I assume the roots grow from. Is the row of dots below the solid ring?
Thanks,
Karyn

PS: It won't be invasive here because I'll have to grow it in a container and put it in the greenhouse over the winter.

karyn1, I just planted directly in the ground. I did cut up the cutting I got through a SASE into a couple of pieces with each having nodes. Then, layed them down on the ground, covered with some dirt not too deeply and they sprouted. They do require quite a bit of water.