1. To avoid mold, you need to let the tops dry for a few days - also make sure you remove most of the flesh from the pineapple plant (by peeling a couple of bottom layers of leaves from the pineapple top).
2. Whenever I transplant my "water" rooted pineapple plants, they always go into shock and look sickly for a month of two. However, they will recover and "adjust" to the soil. It is a lot better to put your pineapple tops in the soil directly.
