Hello, I found this ficus bonsai yesterday next to the trash (probably someone gave up on it) and I wanted some advice since I've never really had a bonsai. I'm mostly wandering if the roots look good, i cleaned them up since they were full of organic potting soil.

I'm going to get some soil for it today, all I could find in my city is a bonsai mix composed of akadama, peat, vermiculite and coco husk. I also found a mix of lava rock and pumice. I'm going to combine these 2 and probably add some perlite as well. Will this be an acceptable mix? If I could I'd use akadama, pumice and lava rock as a mix but I can't find those 3 individually.

Brightest spot I got in the house is about 8K LUX plus I can give it a growlight that adds another 15K. My only problem is that I can't find a bonsai pot anywhere. Not even a shallow plastic pot. Can I somehow use a normal pot? Maybe get a big plastic pot and cut it at the middle so it's shallower.

You don't have a bonsai. This plant just needs potting and as long as it was not frosty then it should recover. It does not need extra light, in fact for a while it would be better without. The soil mix you use is irrelevant, as long as it drains.

Thanks for the answer! It was probably sold as a bonsai, as I've seen a lot of them in shops. Also the trunk was trained to grow in an S shape. Now, if it is or not a bonsai I don't know, I'm sure that it's a ficus retusa though. I just potted it up and it will hopefully bounce back after some time.

Yes it is a Ficus, but a poor excuse for bonsai. It may well have been sold as a bonsai, but that is usually to inflate the price.

Put it in a big pot and place in a half shaded position to recover. If it counces back, bring it outdoors when night temperature is above 10 degrees. First in the shade and then after a week move it gradually into full sun. Let it bring a full summer outdoors to get strong. Shallow pot, wiering, pruning and everything bonsaiish can wait a year or two.

Thanks! I placed it in a 22cm pot and it's sitting in the brightest spot I got. Hopefully it will bounce back. I don't know if I'll be able to keep it outside, since I live in an apartment. I do have SE facing windows, so during the summer if I don't close the blinds it's still full sun in my house.