Wow, that's really cool and well done! It's really bursting with life! Can't tell looking at that if they're the same plant or not. How cute is the little forest of babies?! I wonder if given more light if the new one in water would show some stripes on the leaves. Not that I think it's necessary, just naked curiosity. I would keep an eye on the ties once in a while, to make sure the trunks haven't gotten too tightly pinched.

Lucky Bamboo that have spent their whole lives in water may reject soil. Not sure why. Also, my experience is that healthy plants make this transition better than distressed plants. If you want to grow in soil you may want to start with new individual stalks that have not spent years in a rock and water arangement. Make sure you use a container that drains. Start by packing potting soil(I use Miracle Grow Moisture Control) in the bottom of the container leaving about 3.5 inches of space to the top. Set your plants root system on top of this layer. Do not push the root system into the soil. This will make the roots point up. Roots want to grow down. Then pack another 3 inches or so of soil on top of the root system. Lucky Bamboo like packed soil. Keep the soil moist but not saturated with water for extended periods of time. Some drops of Green Green fertilizer may help. Sand helps drainage as well as a layer of rocks at the bottom. Good Luck

Sounds to me like she gave you dying lucky bamboo, the mushy one is a goner. I would throw away the other one also. Go out and buy her a new plant, they dont cost that much and you'll make her happy. Taking care of someones plants is a hard job, its like leaving your pets with someone :>) Christine

Amyly Ann, here are some care instructions on found online. Lets not even think about fertilizer right now, the plant doesn't need it yet as it has to recover from all the messing around were are doing to it, and it is in new soil so it is fine on fertilizer right now. http://houseplants.about.com/od/typesofhouseplants/a/LuckyBamboo.htm Caring for Your Lucky Bamboo Light: Lucky bamboo prefer bright, filtered sunlight, such as found under a rainforest canopy. Avoid direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. They are more tolerant of too little light than too much. If the plant begins to stretch, however, or the green fades, provide more light. Temperature: Lucky bamboo likes warmer temperatures of between 65ºF and 90ºF. Do not place the plants in front of air conditioning or heating vents. Potting Media: In addition to water, lucky bamboo can be grown in a well-drained, rich potting soil. Keep the soil moist, but not soaking. Water as you would any Dracaena species. The Dracaena genus has provided some of the sturdiest houseplants available today, including the every-popular D. deremensis. These plants, which are native to Africa, have been used as houseplants since at least the mid-19th century and are still popular because they possess the single most important quality in a houseplant: they’re pretty and fairly hard to kill. D. deremensis work as single windowsill plants or as part of a mixed group, with their various leaf patterns complementing and overlapping one another. Growing Conditions: Light: Low light is fine, but they like it a little brighter. New leaves will narrow if there isn’t enough light. Water: Keep evenly moist, although if you have to err, do so on the dry side. (But keeping it too dry will result in brown leaf tips.) Use non-fluoridated water as they are sensitive to fluoride. Temperature: Keep above 50ºF if possible. They do best in the mid-70ºs to low 80ºs. Soil: Loose, well-drained potting mix. Fertilizer: During growing, fertilizer with slow-release fertilizer or use a 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer at half-strength every month. Propagation: They root readily from cuttings. Push tip cuttings into warm soil and keep moist. They will usually root readily without use of rooting hormone. They should root within a month. Repotting: Repot annually into larger pots with fresh, free-draining potting soil. Grower's Tips: D. deremensis is a great plant for low-light conditions, but beware of low humidity. If the humidity drops below 40 percent for an extended time, the tips of the leaves can turn brown. Try misting the plant every day to provide humidity. It’s also sensitive to fluoride and excessive salts, so try to use nonfluoridated water and flush monthly to remove fertilizer salts. Growth may cease completely below 70ºF, but will resume when warmer weather returns. Iron deficiency can result in yellowing leaves between the veins—treat with an iron drench. They are susceptible to thrips and mealybugs.