Some pretty good answers here already. FWIW on test kits, I like the API master kit plus a GH/KH set (I had to order that one from amazon). Having said that, I'd add two things. First, similar to what Tazeat and Roy said, I tested like a madman for the first 6 months that I kept tanks, but after a while, I could predict the test results based on what I was seeing in the tank from the fish/plants. So, you may end up not testing so much. That leads to my 2nd point, in that there was a post a few months ago from Cory (Aquarium Co-Op) about how the test strips are the equal of the API kit, because neither is REALLY accurate, and you can complete the test strips in about 30 seconds and do all the tests on the strip at once. Despite all the pro-API Master Kit opinions, I found some sense in that argument, and eventually, I'll own both kinds. YMMV.
Honestly, now that I think about it, in reality, the best test for water parameters in a planted tank might actually be the plants themselves. I would google "aquatic plant deficiency chart" and look at some of the images you get. The hardest part for me is that change in plants comes about relatively sloooooowly, and so it's hard to make a change to your routine, then give it enough time to actually be manifested in the tank (1-2 months or more, I'd say) without panicking or getting impatient and making a bunch MORE changes in that initial timeframe. I've also added weekly photos on my phone of my 4 planted tanks, because I think subtle changes happen that i don't see because I'm staring at them all the time.
Lastly, you may already know, but there is a really good planted tank forum resource at
http://www.plantedtank.net. If you've already been, then disregard, but it has a fantastic user base that is pretty knowledgeable and mostly experienced (and includes several users from here, some in this very thread, even!), and although the amount of info was overwhelming at times, I found the level of patience and knowledge in the forums made it a useful site and I go there often. It also has some good plant profiles that I find myself using (often after buying a plant at a GSAS auction without knowing enough about it, :shock:. Another one that comes up a lot for me on google is Aquatic Plant Central.
I started with a rock only Mbuna cichlid tank, and I fell into my smaller planted tanks sort of by accident, and they've been fun. I'm low tech so far, only dosing excel for CO2 needs with low/med light, and am thinking seriously about investing in a CO2 system in the near to mid term future. Good luck and have fun!!