[header] How to plant a java fern [title] Place a fern that's attached to driftwood into your tank. [step] If you buy a java fern at a pet shop or even order it online, it will often come pre-attached to a small piece of driftwood. In this case, you can simply place the fern and driftwood into your aquarium as-is, since java ferns grow best when attached to driftwood or stone. 
[substeps] Often, the fern will be attached to the wood with a thin thread that should dissolve over time in the water. The root system of the java fern will hold it in place.