I grow Sugar Cane, an old, cold hardy variety called "Louisiana Purple". Very easy for me. I just lay a length down that has a couple eyes on it a few inches deep and that's about it. Some years I will cut a lot of it right before a hard frost and bury it about 2 foot deep to store it for spring if I suspect I will be giving some away to friends for planting. My original planting usually returns just fine. My E. Texas soil is acidic and fairly soft.
I have zero reason for growing it except for the fact that I like the way it looks. Yes, water is needed for it to attain good size.
I have never seen mine boom- I would guess the growing season is not long enough here.
There are many varieties of Sugar Cane out there; if one fails, try another. Most are not very cold hardy and some, to my eye, are weedy looking (a lot of the commercial types). You would be surprised to see how many will pop up on Ebay!

Our soil is alkaline. We're on a limestone outcropping. We have to replenish the soil every couple of years to get anything to grow. Most tropical plants, I have to keep in large pots. I may try sugar cane in a pot just for fun!

I dont know what kind of sugar cane i have but when it starts to sprout leaves out of the nodes, i plant them in the ground horizontally about 2-3 inches deep. I dont eat em and do anything with them. My mother planted them and i just kept them there. She took a few stalks to grow at her house as well so both houses has sugar canes. Not sure what kinda soil it is. Just regular garden soil? Miracle gro gardening soil. Sorry i wasnt much help.