[SueM]

Rocky all plants go thru a transition period when planted. But it seems yours have more then that.

4 Questions..........
What is the Temp? Most plants like cooler temps, for example a lace leaf will melt like butter in over 78.

Well actually these 3 questions go together..... How many fish? How old is the substrate? And what kind of substrate?
As in Nature, the fish will fertilize the plants with their waste, the substrate in nature if more like a mud/clay/fish poop sludge. If you are using just regular gravel and its fairly new. There's nothing there for the plants yet. First, never vacuum your substrate except maybe to clean the very top just for looks. You can get a box of "plant Tabs" and poke them into the substrate by the roots. Another trick that sounds gross but works, is when you clean your filters, rinse it all in the tank!!!! ewww I know, but give it a bit for the major particles to settle into the substrate, then fire the filters back up. Doing this a couple times with new substrate will speed up the buildup up the "sludge".
Once your substrate gets "older" and thicker, you may want to consider getting Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They are the earthworms of the planted tanks (no they don't eat plants) and they will keep the substitute from developing methane pockets. Which are bad news for fish.