Bryan Tan’s customers enjoy getting tattoos partly because they can admire his other “artwork”. His parlour doubles as a secret garden, complete with an outdoor shade house and air-conditioned greenhouse. This is where he tends to his precious anthuriums.
With only four years of experience in the hobby, Tan has gained more than 4,900 followers on Instagram through his (@midnightgarden_sg) account.
When I asked how he does it, he smiled and replied, “Be patient. It takes time for you to know your plants and understand what they need. Allow yourself to learn how little adjustments can make a big difference.”
What sparked your passion for plants?
My girlfriend gifted me a terrarium in 2019, and I had to research what plants thrived in it. That was when I became interested in aroids, especially anthuriums. As my collection grew, I had to rent a plot to house them all.
Now they’re in your tattoo studio?
It wasn’t my intention to grow them here, but it worked out. After downsizing my collection and focusing on the anthuriums I loved, I built a shade house and greenhouse. I’m grateful for how it turned out—it’s the perfect balance of my work and my hobby.
What is your plant care routine?
Since my plants are in the same space where I work, tending to them is convenient. The shade house is automated with temperature and humidity sensors that trigger a misting system when required.
My greenhouse is air-conditioned, and I water my plants twice a week with a DIY drainage system hooked up to an industrial pond pump.
Do you have a favourite?
Every plant has a unique charm so it’s hard to pick a favourite. Most of my collection is anthuriums and the Anthurium Besseae (aff. besseae “Blue” x Dark Phoenix) MGK-01 is the most special. It is a hybrid I created, and it turned out exactly as I envisioned.
What do you consider when adding new plants to your collection?
I value provenance when it comes to anthuriums, and I believe other anthurium collectors do as well. There is something appealing about plants with a history or a context that enhances their appeal. Before adding a plant to my collection, I learn where it comes from. Plants with hybridisation potential also interest me.
Photography Mun Kong
Photography assistant Melvin Leong
Art direction Ed Harland
