NFBC Newsletter – November 2025

November 10th: NFBC Meeting

Pre-Meeting Help Hour- As usual, the club will be open from 6-7pm before the meeting. In an effort to be of service to all club members, some of our more senior members have been kind enough to offer their guidance the hour before the meeting starts. If you need help with anything bonsai related and have the time, join us and bring whatever material it is you are seeking help with.

Meeting Activity: Fall Juniper Work w/ David Ruth (Bring your Junipers!)November is here, and with it, fall in Florida! Fall is an optimal time to work on your Junipers and we are fortunate to have David Ruth to walk us through some best practices and tips for making your Juniper the best tree it can be. So, if you’re a Juniper enthusiast, or just Juniper curious, come see what fall Juniper work is all about.

November 10th Soil Available for Purchase

First, the club would like to extend a tremendous thank you to everyone who was able to come out and lend a hand on soil mixing day. We had some absolute rock star volunteers that put in an incredible amount of work to ensure the club has a large amount of good quality soil! If you weren’t able to make it be sure to thank those who did. It is because of them we were able to make a magnificent amount of soil that will be available for purchase at this month’s meeting for $20 a bag for club members, $25 for non-members. A single bag is equivalent to about a 5 gallon bucket. We have 57 bags available for purchase and will be bringing 20 bags to Monday night’s meeting. If you intend to purchase soil please email Kelly Harrison at [email protected], or text at (904)-463-6731, with how many bags you’d like to buy so I can ensure we have what we need present Monday night. Payments can be made via cash, check or card.

Beginner’s Study Group

If you are new, fairly new, or just seeking more bonsai knowledge in general, try out our very first Beginner’s Study Group! Recommended for folks with less than 1 year of experience.

If there are no sign ups this group will pick back up the next month when we have participants. Special arrangements can be made for single participants.

If you would like to volunteer to to facilitate this group, please let us know! You can do so by contacting Kelly Harrison either at the meeting or via email at [email protected]

WHEN: The Beginner’s Study Group will continue in November

More information available at each meeting by talking directly to Kelly Harrison or emailing him at [email protected] to register/ask questions!

November 19th @ 6pm: Intermediate Study Group

Not a beginner but not ready to call yourself an expert? We’ve got just the group for you!

We welcome any and all participants to come by whenever they can make it. You do not need to be present for every meeting in a single quarter to sign up, but if you wish to take the study group sessions in succession, this quarter’s meetings will be taking place on July 23rd, August 20th and September 17th! With a new session beginning in October!

We will be sending out a reminder the week before each meeting.

WHEN: Wednesday 6pm November 19th @ Josh Brown’s Home (address provided upon sign up)

More information available at each meeting by talking directly to Kelly Harrison or emailing him at [email protected] to register/ask questions!

*Important Note*: Previously our Intermediate sessions have taken place at Florida Bonsai Nursery, but for the month of October we will have a new face hosting the Intermediate Study Group. Josh Brown will not only be facilitating, but also hosting at his house. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see Josh’s trees I suggest you take the opportunity to get a look! Josh is also an excellent teacher so take advantage while you can. If you plan to attend please let me know so I can give you the details necessary to participate (date and time are as stated above). You can contact me at (904)-463-6731 or at [email protected].

North Florida Bonsai Club Holiday Party

The North Florida Bonsai Club Holiday Party is a Bonsai Club Tradition! December’s meeting will be the Holiday party and we will have a couple fun things planned for that evening (December 8th) but the biggest draw is the pot luck dinner. We have had some delicious dishes in past years and hopes are this year will be no different (looking at you, Mike Caira!). We will also have a Bonsai Christmas Tree decorating contest so bring your best Bonsai Christmas Tree decked out for the holidays! Full information and details will be provided at November’s meeting.

Other Bonsai News/Events

Florida Bonsai Nursery & Supply Now Has a Podcast

The Florida Bonsai Podcast has officially launched with the Pioneer Series featuring Mike Rodgers.

You can check out the latest episode here!

The BSF 2025 Exhibit Book is Still Live on Amazon!

If you loved this year’s exhibit, or didn’t get to see it, don’t fret!

You can get your own copy for just $22.99 right here!

November Meeting

Pre-Meeting Help Hour

An opportunity for anyone seeking help, newcomer or otherwise, to bring in any material they are looking for feedback or guidance on. David Ruth has made himself available the past couple of months, but many of the club’s more senior members are present and available to offer guidance. Feel free to take advantage as this is now a permanent fixture.

Part 1 Club Update/Announcements

We will begin the club meeting with an update on club business and upcoming events of note.  Including, a recap of the club soil mixing day and soil available, the upcoming holiday party, a fun opportunity for the club and Spring Festival Planning/Committee updates.

Part 2: Fall Juniper Work w/ David Ruth (Bring your Junipers!)

November is here, and with it, fall in Florida! Fall is an optimal time to work on your Junipers and we are fortunate to have David Ruth to walk us through some best practices and tips for making your Juniper the best tree it can be. So, if you’re a Juniper enthusiast, or just Juniper curious, come see what fall Juniper work is all about.

Bonsai Beginner’s Study Group (Will Continue in November)

This is not a class or workshop. It is a group of individuals in a similar place in their bonsai journey studying the same material. There is no charge or membership fee. We will be studying from The Foundations of Bonsai by Harry Harrington and will cover the material over two meetings in a single month, but this group will be ongoing. We currently have about 5-6 copies of the The Foundations of Bonsai so please only commit if you are serious about attending both meetings and studying the book. We will need each copy returned at the last meeting of each month. Typically the second Saturday of each month will mark the beginning of a new study group and will be led by a facilitator. Because it is a study group and not a workshop or class, you do not need prior experience to facilitate this group. So, if you are interested in facilitating or participating please get with Kelly Harrison at the April meeting or send him an email at [email protected].

Intermediate Bonsai Study Group

November 19th (Wednesday) @ 6pm

This is not a class or workshop. It is a group of individuals in a similar place in their bonsai journey gathering to further their bonsai knowledge. There is no charge or membership fee. This group will meet once a month over a 3 month period before a new group begins, but you are welcome to drop by whenever you can. Josh Brown is hosting our current intermediate study group. If you are interested, the club has multiple copies of The Principles of Bonsai Design by David De Groot available to check out while you participate in the study group.

*Important*: Previously our Intermediate sessions have taken place at Florida Bonsai Nursery, but for the month of October we will have a new face hosting the Intermediate Study Group. Josh Brown will not only be facilitating, but also hosting at his house. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see Josh’s trees I suggest you take the opportunity to get a look! Josh is also an excellent teacher so take advantage while you can. If you plan to attend please let me know so I can give you the details necessary to participate (date and time are as stated above). You can contact me at (904)-463-6731 or at [email protected].

Sponsors

NFBC is sponsored by Florida Bonsai Nursery & Supply and Sunway Landscape Services. We encourage you to visit these sponsors.

Now @ Florida Bonsai: High-Quality annealed copper wire available for all your coniferous bonsai wiring needs!

Also @ Florida Bonsai: New pre-bonsai stock , get them now while you still can!

Seasonal Advice – November

Deciduous Trees – November is a month of subtle but important change for your deciduous bonsai. Many trees are beginning to show signs of leaf color transition and even some early leaf drop, which gives us a preview of the tree’s structure. This is an ideal time to assess the form of your trees, consider wiring adjustments, or plan for structural pruning. Daytime highs have cooled to the low 70s–mid 60s, and nighttime temps are dipping into the 60s-high 40s range. While we’re still receiving some rainfall, the reduced heat and sunlight are slowing growth, giving your deciduous trees a chance to rest and prepare for winter. We are coming up on a great time to research different techniques for guiding your trees’ development during the dormant period.

Conifers and Broadleaf Evergreen Trees – November brings even more comfortable temperatures for conifers and evergreens. Now that the time change has officially taken place our days are significantly shorter than what we endured during the summer and the sunlight is less intense, signaling a natural slowing of growth. While your trees may not show dramatic changes yet, be mindful of water needs; overwatering is more common now that evaporation and transpiration rates are lower. This month is also a good time to inspect for pests and diseases that can linger from the warmer months. Additionally, this month’s meeting will serve as a great learning experience/refresher on structural pruning on conifers before the growth resumes in spring. Cooler nights in the 40s–60s will be refreshing for these hardy species, but ensure your younger or smaller trees are monitored carefully.

Tropical Trees – Tropical bonsai are starting to feel the subtle chill of North Florida’s late fall. While daytime temps still often reach the mid-70s, nights dipping into the 40s–60s can stress sensitive species if left unprotected. This is the time to finalize your winter preparation plans. If you don’t have a greenhouse or protective arrangement, consider temporary solutions such as frost cloths, indoor relocation, or even a warm garage or sunroom. We are already expecting some sustained cold night time temperatures. Watering frequency should begin to decrease as growth slows, but watch soil moisture carefully—too dry and the trees can suffer, too wet and root rot may set in. Now is the month to anticipate the colder snaps rather than react to them.

Miscellaneous – November is the “get ready” month for bonsai winter care. As the nights cool and the days shorten, it’s the perfect time to review your collection’s needs. Double-check your wintering spaces, confirm that tropicals are ready for protection, and give deciduous and conifers a final check for structural adjustments before dormancy fully sets in. Planning now ensures a smooth transition into the slower winter months and saves you a last-minute scramble when temperatures unexpectedly dip. Now is also a great time to acquire some low-to-no nitrogen fertilizers to keep your plants healthy and strong through the winter months. Remember, in North Florida, cold snaps are often brief but can be sharp—being proactive will protect your trees and give them the best chance to thrive come spring.