Question
Not sure what the plants names are.  One is fan like w/long individual branches and the other one is  spiky like branches all coming from the top of the stem  
the second plant one stem all leaves fell off and the stem was soft

Answer
Carol
Without pictures I can only offer guesses. The 1st sounds like an Areca palm. The 2nd sounds like a Dracena marginata and has been watered too frequently (rotting). Type these names into your search engine and compare the pictures to your plant. Let me know what you think after comparing your plant to the pictures.
Watering them properly and doing other proper maintenance should improve their appearance quickly.
Water by weight. Put a saucer under the pot. Water and let the plant sit in the excess water for 5-10 minutes. After that time pour off any excess water in the saucer. Pick up or lean the pot. It should feel heavy. Don't water again until it feels considerably lighter in weight. You an also poke your finger into the soil to make sure it isn't too wet. Watering frequency depends on many factors(sun exposure, type of plant, wind, day temps, etc.). Plants die from too frequent waterings - not from too much water at one time. They can also die from being allowed to be too dry for too long.
You also need to add fertilize on a weekly to monthly basis during the growing season. Ask someone at a local garden center what to use and how to fertilize your plants.
Most indoor plants don't like to be moved a lot...They respond by dropping foliage and yellowing leaves. Most don't like direct sun lite either. Just a bright location...
Remove damaged leaves to make the plant function & look better...
Good luck...
Rick in southern NJ...