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Hello! I’m a total beginner and would appreciate any and all help!

Last night I found what I believe is a ficus retusa sitting outside my apartment complex with a “FREE” sign and decided to bring it home. Here’s what it looked like:


Since I’m not sure how old it is or what condition it was kept in, this morning I gently uprooted it to see if it needed to be repotting, root trimming, etc. The roots were quite thin and not very numerous at all, so I replanted it using the same soil and pot (I’ve never kept bonsai before and only have a small cactus pot/tray and cactus soil left over from old succulents).. is this okay? Will it still be able to thrive or have I killed the poor thing? I packed the soil in quite tight as the ficus was very “loose” and wobbly after my first attempt at replanting it. There was no mesh or pebbles at the bottom of the pot. I also gently cleaned the leaves but am avoiding pruning it for now.

As I’m a student with a few jobs as well I’m planning on essentially just staying a casual hobbyist and doing my best to make sure this wonderful little plant thrives without worrying too much about perfect shaping or the most beautiful presentation possible. Any recommendations on care, affordable supplies, and what I need to acquire and do right away to best take care of it would be extremely appreciated!!

Thanks in advance

EDIT: I should mentioned that I’m currently located near Phoenix, Arizona and based on what I’ve read am keeping the ficus outside on our patio for the summer. Please let me know if I should be keeping it indoors instead!

Congratulations on your first plat, I suppose.
Could you please post a picture on the forum?

In general "packing soil tight" is a bad idea. Roots are quite vulnerable, so exerting pressure on fine roots is not ideal. And besides that, soil needs air for roots to thrive.

I would say, water it well, then do not water again untill the soil starts to dry out. The first cm of the pot can be dry before watering again. Depending on the state of the plant you could possible help it by placing it in a large transparant bag, to raise humidity.

Thank you for the tips!! I’ve attached a picture from when I first picked it up.

As for the soil, should I uproot it and replant it with a looser pack again? Or wait for it to dry before attempting anything further? Thanks again!

Yes, I would have brought it home too.

For now I would leave it alone. Every time you do things with it, the plant is at risk of getting damaged.

The rocks and stuff you have put on the surface of the pot will make it more dificult to monitor the need for water imo.

Ah I see! It already had the moss and rocks on when I brought it home so I’ll make sure to remove it. Thanks again!