Sugarcane doesn't grow in realms

Were playing on a world that used to be standalone but is now a realm for ease of playing.  Now the sugarcane farm i made that used to work fine is no longer growing.  They all stay at the first growth and don't do anything else.  I also can't place anything more on top usually the first time.  It will delete the sugarcane if I try and put it back in my inv.  Then maybe after 2 or 3 trys it will place.  But it still won't grow.  This is troublesome.  The few that are 2 tall are ones I have tried to get to grow which haven't.  I even re did thay whole other side and replaced all the sugarcane.  To no avail.