Bonsai Resources & Links
Supplies, learning materials, videos, and links curated by GSBS members.
Bonsai Supplies
Copper Wire / Adams Bonsai
Bonsai wire, tools, and supplies
AllShapes Bonsai & Nursery
Local NJ bonsai nursery in Ringoes - run by David & Diane Hall and Brian Zegar. Excellent source for pre-bonsai material, pots, tools, and supplies at reasonable prices. Hosts annual bonsai shows.
Manhattan Bonsai
NYC-area bonsai supplier run by Efrain Torres - soil, pots, trees, and accessories
Rosade Bonsai Studio
Chase Rosade's legendary studio in New Hope, PA - finished bonsai, pre-bonsai, tools, workshops, and consultations
The Bonsai Shack
Pomona, NY - owned by Arnie Friedman; hosts free demonstrations and events with visiting artists
Learning Resources
Bonsai Tonight - Jonas Dupuich
In-depth bonsai techniques, species guides, and seasonal care from professional bonsai artist Jonas Dupuich
Bonsai Empire
Comprehensive beginner-to-advanced guides, species profiles, and care calendars
Art of Bonsai Project
Community resource with galleries, articles, and forums for bonsai enthusiasts
International Bonsai Magazine
Long-running bonsai publication featuring artists, techniques, and exhibitions worldwide
Knowledge of Bonsai
In-depth bonsai education resource covering techniques, species, and design principles
Rosade Bonsai Studio
Chase Rosade's bonsai studio in New Hope, PA - classes, consultations, and bonsai art
Monthly Bonsai Care Guide
Month-by-month care tips for the Northeast US climate, distilled from over 170 GSBS newsletters spanning 17 years and decades of member experience. For the complete interactive guide, visit our dedicated care guide page.
January
Protect trees from extreme cold and check that soil hasn't dried out. Winter is excellent for heavy pruning, new design, carving, and needle plucking on pines. Plan your spring repotting schedule.
February
Prepare bonsai compost (peat, garden compost, sand/grit with slow-release fertilizer). In mild spells, repot and wire deciduous trees. Branch pruning can be done on most trees except Japanese maples and pines.
March
Perfect time to repot and root-prune. Gradually bring trees out of winter shelter. Spray for fungus and insects on warm days. Good month for collecting from the wild.
April
Begin feeding, pinching, watering, and pruning in earnest. Still a decent month for root-pruning and collecting trees. Be mindful of cold snaps.
May
Daily watering begins. Take cuttings and continue air-layering. Watch wired branches carefully - deciduous trees expand quickly in May and June.
June
Pinch terminal buds on deciduous trees, leaving one pair of leaves. Candle-pinching for evergreens winding down. Watch closely for insect pests. Chinese junipers are the only trees to safely repot this month - shield from drying wind and full sun. Mist foliage in early morning or evening only - water on leaves in full sun causes burn.
July
Feeding, pinching, and pruning in full swing. Keep plucking terminal buds off junipers and cedars. Spray in shade if using chemicals.
August
Water every day, possibly twice. Reduce nitrogen and increase potassium and phosphorus. Loosen wire that's biting into branches. Begin hardening trees for fall. Next year's buds and leaves are already being set - avoid heavy pruning that triggers new growth that won't harden before winter. Stop leaf pruning deciduous trees and eliminate nitrogen entirely by month's end.
September
Begin hardening-off for winter. Apply low-nitrogen fertilizer after leaves fall but before November. Take hardwood cuttings and plan winter protection.
October
Growth drawing to a close - stop fertilizing. Heavy branch pruning on pines. Prepare winter storage area. Many evergreens can be wire-trained in autumn. Prime time to scout garden centers - nurseries discount trees and shrubs up to 50%, and stock with broken tops or low branches that shoppers overlook are ideal bonsai candidates.
November
Trees can remain outdoors until month's end. Check for insects and spray before winter storage. Remove dead leaves and branches. Tropicals should already be indoors.
December
Assess deciduous tree design while bare. Wire evergreens (not deciduous - too brittle). Plan repotting schedule, mix soil, and clean tools. Prevent soil freeze-thaw and wind dehydration.
Member Recipe: Organic Fertilizer Cake
Documented in GSBS newsletters since the early 2000s. Originally from Michael Persiano; adapted by John Michalski.
Dry Ingredients (by volume)
- 3 parts cottonseed meal (acidic nitrogen)
- 2 parts garden lime (alkaline balance)
- 1 part blood meal (nitrogen and iron)
- 1 part bone meal (phosphorus)
Wet Ingredients (per 5 lbs dry)
- 5 oz fish emulsion
- Water as needed to reach cookie-dough consistency
Method
Mix to a stiff cookie-dough consistency. Spread 1/4 inch thick on a flat surface. Dry in sun, then break into 1-2 inch blocks. Store dry.
Application
Apply in spring when bud growth is evident: 4-5 chunks for a large pot, 1-2 for a small pot. Place on soil surface and allow to break down with watering. Cease application in early August to avoid triggering late bud break before winter.
Fred Aufschlager's Soil Mixes
GSBS Potter in Residence Fred Aufschlager offers professional-grade custom soil mixes for club members.
Coniferous Mix
Available in coarse and fine grinds. Formulated for pines, junipers, and other conifers.
$50 per 5-gallon bucket · $12/gal (1-3 gal)
Deciduous Mix (Fine)
Fine grind formulated for maples, hornbeams, elms, and other deciduous species.
$60 per 5-gallon bucket · $14/gal (1-3 gal)
NJ Winter Protection Tips
From 17 years of GSBS newsletters: snow is beneficial to hardy trees (insulates, stabilizes temperature). The real threats are repeated freeze-thaw cycles, wind desiccation, and rodents (voles and mice). Keep hardy trees fully frozen outdoors rather than in cold frames where soil thaws and attracts wildlife.
Interested in soil mixes? Ask at any meeting or contact the club.
GSBS on YouTube
Watch demonstrations, meeting highlights, and helpful bonsai tips from our members on the Great Swamp Bonsai Society YouTube channel.
Recommended Reading
Books by people connected to GSBS and our community.
Bonsai Heresy
Illustrated by GSBS Artist in Residence Sergio Cuan - a fresh perspective on bonsai conventions
Bonsai Containers as Ceramic Art
By GSBS Potter in Residence Fred Aufschlager - a scholarly essay on bonsai container history and ceramic art traditions. Free PDF download.
Bonsai From the Wild
By the late Nick Lenz - a groundbreaking book highlighting native North American species, their natural habitats, and styling tips. A favorite among GSBS members.
International Bonsai Magazine
Published by Bill Valavanis (a past GSBS guest artist). GSBS member Martin Schmalenberg published a two-part article on Pitch Pine styling in this magazine.
Growing & Displaying Bonsai
By Colin Lewis & Neil Sutherland - the source GSBS newsletters cited for monthly care tips across 17 years of issues. A reliable, practical reference for temperate-climate bonsai.
Bonsai: The Art of Growing and Keeping Miniature Trees
By Peter Chan - another foundational reference cited throughout the GSBS newsletter archive for seasonal care guidance and species-specific advice.
The Bonsai Book
By Dan Barton - recommended by GSBS member John Michalski as 'a well-rounded overview of bonsai for people who have progressed beyond the beginner stage.' A retired veterinarian and passionate bonsai practitioner.
External Links
Organizations, societies, and gardens in the bonsai community.
National & Regional Organizations
American Bonsai Society
National bonsai organization promoting bonsai in America
Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies (MABS)
11 member clubs across CT, DE, NY, NJ, PA, RI, and MA - hosts annual Spring Festival
NJ Bonsai Societies (NJBS)
501(c)(3) co-sponsored by Bergen, Deep Cut, GSBS, and PA Bonsai Society
Bonsai Clubs International (BCI)
Global bonsai organization connecting clubs and enthusiasts worldwide
National Bonsai Foundation
Supports the National Bonsai & Penjing Collection at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.
Local Bonsai Societies
Newsletter Archive (2005–2022)
Over 170 issues spanning 2005 to 2022 - a treasure trove of meeting recaps, monthly care tips, guest artist features, workshop reports, member tributes, collecting trip stories, and club history. Written primarily by John Michalski, these newsletters capture the heart and soul of GSBS. Click any year to browse and download individual issues as PDF.
Historical Documents
Club calendars, show programs, and educational materials from the GSBS archives.
Bonsai Containers as Ceramic Art
Scholarly essay by Fred Aufschlager, GSBS Potter in Residence
Annual Bonsai Show Flyer, 2013
Historical show flyer from the annual exhibition
27th Annual MABS Spring Festival, 2010
Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies festival program
28th Annual MABS Spring Festival, 2011
Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies festival program
GSBS Calendar, 2013–2014
Historical club calendar and meeting schedule
GSBS Calendar, 2012–2013
Historical club calendar and meeting schedule
International Stone Appreciation Symposium
Suiseki and viewing stone appreciation - a companion art to bonsai
Know a Resource We Should Add?
If you have a suggestion for a bonsai supplier, learning resource, or organization we should list here, let us know.