To ensure successful planting of Constructed wetlands, there are several options available, namely seeds, pot grown plant, shoot with rhizomes/root or soil spread, which are suitable for all species (Nuttall et. al., 1997). Meanwhile, rhizomes option is suitable for Phragmites, Typha, and Iris spp whereas stem cuttings technique is suitable for Phalaris and Glyceria spp. Seeds can be relatively inexpensive to cover large areas but it is not suitable for the case of SSF Constructed wetlands. In contrast, pot grown plants is considered to be more expensive but comes with several advantages, such as rapid tillering and cover, simple to plant, rapid development of dense cover if high planting density is applied, etc. Techniques accompanying with rhizomes are relatively inexpensive, but require higher horticulture skill and time consuming during preparation.
In order to ensure the successful operation, it is crucial to perform a monitoring of constructed wetland. At least influent and effluent quality, water levels, and microbial indicators have to be measured periodically.
Suggested monitoring parameters and frequencies are (Tchobanoglous, 1996)
Continuous;flow rate (in/out)
Weekly;Water Quality: DO, temp., BOD, COD, SS, particle size distribution, nutrients (in/out along CW) pH, conductivity (only in and out)
Monthly; Bacteria (in/out)
Quarterly; chlorophyll, metals, sediment characteristics (redox potential, salinity, pH, OM) (in/out along CW)
Annually; flow rate distribution (within CW), organics (in/out along CW)
Moreover, it may also be necessary to monitor any happening competition from weeds species by carefully monitoring and hand-weeding if such are presented. Insect and grazing damage can harmfully affect the emergent plants, which require some control measures such as fencing and some monitoring.
General management activities include regulating the water levels, reducing loadings for short- or long-term periods, harvesting of undesired plants species as well as subsequent replanting (Kadlec and Knight, 1996).