MBS tree surgeon: He works at height, prunes 800kg bonsai

In this series, people from all walks of life offer an inside – often unfiltered – take on their livelihoods and what keeps them going in their jobs. In this instalment, hear from a horticulturist and tree surgeon at Marina Bay Sands, Jordan Loh, on what it takes to build an inviting space within the property, as told to The Straits Times.

I am 34, and I make sure that more than 950 trees and palms, including 90 trees planted at the Sands SkyPark, are in tip-top condition. I’m in charge of the landscaped areas in the hotel, and clock at least 12,000 steps every day.

The work can be laborious but satisfying. For instance, I am involved in managing the newly revamped landscaped areas that feature the property’s bonsai collection. We have 16 large bonsai plants ranging from 500kg to 800kg at the lobby of the ultra-luxurious Paiza Collection, which is located on the highest floors and dedicated to the hotel’s VVIP guests. Because of their massive weight, some were crane-hoisted at night to ensure minimal disruption and perfect placement at various locations. The Paiza Collection, which was part of an ongoing multi-year US$1.75 billion (S$2.3 billion) transformation, was completed in November 2024.

For the large bonsai plants, it can take eight of us to move them from one location to another. There’s time pressure as we have to move them in an hour, but the six-person landscape team is well-trained for this.

We have a holding room where MBS’ 36 small bonsai plants can bask in the morning sun for at least six hours, three times a week. Bonsai plants in the hotel are rotated regularly to give guests a refreshing experience.

It’s hard work as we have to prune them individually and tie them to form the desired shape – this takes hours for each plant. Because it’s a miniature tree, we only want to display the small leaves. We have to manually remove the bigger leaves to make sure the ratio between the branches and leaves is equal.

Sometimes we have to reduce the size of the root ball – the mass of roots and soil – to fit them into a pot. We don’t want plants that are too big – the aura will be too much.

This is also where we wait for new growth before we display them in the restaurants. The most expensive plant here is an approximately 100-year-old bonsai that we procured from a Singapore hobbyist for about $15,000 in 2024.

In late 2024, I travelled to Malaysia and Thailand to handpick these plants for specific areas at the hotel to elevate guest experiences. Bonsai is a premium plant in the horticulture industry that suits the profile of the hotel’s guests. It’s like a “delicacy” for the landscape team because it’s a rare opportunity for us to work with them. Before travelling there, we need to study where the collectors of the plants are.

Travelling to see the actual plants in person is like opening a “blind box” because I can’t see their form or style through online pictures. One challenge is limited space, so I have to understand the areas and types of plants that can be placed at MBS. When we choose them, the measurements have to be precise. When we bring plants from different countries here, it usually takes up to three months for them to adjust to Singapore’s climate.

We put out different flowering plants and colour themes throughout the year. It’s currently marigold season as we welcome Deepavali in October, and the theme is orange and yellow. Guests can spot them at the Sands SkyPark at level 57 near the infinity pool.

Changes in Singapore’s climate brought new challenges to the job. For the sunflower display in June, we experienced different weather conditions as compared with 2024. While the weather can be unpredictable, we can make sure the water drains quicker with appropriate soil.

We display hydrangeas in March and April, and this has piqued some guests’ interest in how the plant can survive in Singapore’s climate. With proper care, these flowers can survive up to two months. Fun fact: We adjust the pH levels of the soil to change its colour from pink to blue, allowing guests to see a fusion of colours in the hydrangeas. Pink reflects a higher concentration of alkaline.

Long-staying guests who stay for a couple of months would notice this. There are different concepts in landscape design where we create changing landscapes to ensure that long-term guests can experience something different while retaining familiarity.

For the upcoming Christmas season, we are bringing in poinsettias and miniature Christmas trees from Holland and Malaysia. The poinsettias have to turn red first before shipment – because they cannot turn from green to red in Singapore’s climate. It took six months of coordination and planning to get the right timing and arrange the transport.

I was recently at Cameron Highlands to look at the Christmas poinsettia and other unusual flowering plants that are not often seen in Singapore that we are looking to introduce at MBS.

I studied horticulture and landscape management at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2012 and pursued training to become a certified arborist, also commonly known as a tree surgeon. I also took a course on working at heights.

During the training, I learnt how to diagnose and treat tree problems, including identifying symptoms of tree cavities or rot, and the lack of nutrition which results in abnormal shedding of leaves. I also learnt about climbing-related arboriculture works. Now, I supervise a team of vendors – who have to climb out of vacant hotel rooms’ balconies using safety harnesses – to prune the bougainvilleas in 15 minutes. I also show the newcomers how it’s done. There’s a time limit for each room so we can complete about 60 rooms across three towers in a day. We remove dried branches and trim the phyllanthus plants.

Watering is done by a smart irrigation system that lines the balconies, making sure that the water supply is increased only when low moisture content is detected.

The tools I use include a moisture sensor and a resistograph to check for tree decay. It works by pushing a thin drill through the tree, and I can analyse the results on a computer screen to see whether a tree is healthy.

People often think I am a gardener or deal with horticulture crops. That’s a misconception in the industry because the job is much broader and strategic. My work requires meticulous planning and precision. The team has to study the plants’ taxonomy thoroughly and consider their suitability. We bring in a small batch of plants first to help “train” them to acclimatise to the hotel’s setting before bringing more in.

Salaries for an entry-level landscape technician at MBS start at $2,330 a month. To do well in the job, one must have a passion for plants and trees and be consistent in carrying out maintenance.

The Rising Forest installation at the hotel by artist Chongbin Zheng features 83 plants in large ceramic pots. Each pot weighs 1,200kg and stands at 3m tall. The vessels were specially made in China, and have been integrated into the hotel’s design since its opening in 2010. It has a towering effect on guests and passers-by. They were so outsized that the artist had to build a customised kiln known to be the size of a small building.

During nighttime, I have to climb a ladder to inspect the leaves daily to check for common pest and fungus issues. We will check up to four trees per night, and there are usually four of us doing it. It takes up to two hours to check each tree as we have to inspect every single branch and immediately treat any pest issues. The ficus benghalensis plant does not shed many leaves, so it’s considered manageable to maintain.

I find it heartening to see guests taking photos of our plants when they walk through the SkyPark and other areas that welcome VIPs, such as the private driveway. When they drive into the property, they can see our topiary landscaping design, featuring circular-shaped plants of different textures and colours, from four nurseries in Singapore.

Some friends and family are curious about my job, and the plants from cooler countries that we display, and I usually send them photos.

Working at a hotel is a unique experience for me as I get to explore the needs of the property and create various experiences based on plant displays. I find it meaningful when guests appreciate and recognise the hard work the team puts in to elevate their stay in one of the most iconic hotels in Singapore.

Got an interesting job to share? Write in to us at ssharon@sph.com.sg.