Newbie here in So Cal... I've noticed when reading a few threads that people prefer different parts of a branch used for cuttings. Is there a real difference in using the bottom part of a branch as opposed to tip cutting or even center cuttings???

Welcome Elfarach to the forum. Some members do not like the tip cuttings, but I have no problems with them. If I were to cut the tip off, you better believe that I would be cutting in a location where I could plant the non-tip and the tip. You only waste a possibility of another plant if you throw away the tip. Just my opinion, you will get more.

Many opinions, the best thing is to start with a fast rooting variety. Kadota is fast, Mission to.....Panache is slow, someone said Strawberry Verte is slow to root.....Anyway, if people are avoiding the tips, they probably want all the energy in the roots first...???  I like my cuttings to be thick like a marker, not thin like a pencil........Welcome to the Forum.

Thanks guys... I've had the worst luck trying to root cuttings, have tried in a bag, plastic shoe box in peat moss, straight into a soil/perlite mix and nothing. My wife says I just wanted them to root SO BAD I jinxed myself. anyways, my last attempt (out of boredom) was just dropping the cuttings into a plastic water bottle with a little rooting hormone I use for my plumerias. BOOM, I got the first signs of rooting action within 5 days. I immediately drop in 3 mistery cuttings from 3 of my neighbors who have fig trees (one of which I'm almost certain it's a brown turkey, the other 2 are green with red flesh but definitely different varieties). I started with 3 cuttings from the same branch of each fig and noticed that the bottom that the bottom portion has the best signs of rooting, center cut then the tip showing the slowest action...

Welcome! I don't really have a preference on cuttings.  The only time I had problems getting cuttings to root using the baggie method I kept the paper towels wet, and my cuttings molded.  They should be barely damp, same with peat moss - you should not be able to squeeze water out. 

Hi Elfarach,
I like one year branches . I always have better success with them.
What is more important is the time at which you take the cuttings.
I like to take cuttings in April/Mai and July . By those times the stems are in rest/pause mode, and they root easier .
I've never used rooting hormone on a fig tree cutting . You really don't need that to root a fig cutting.
So keep on trying !
Only advise : Be sure of what you root ... Or you'll end up with ornamental fig trees. I have here in the neighborhood a fig tree that drops almost all the crop if not all.
Bad strain ... So be sure of what you root or be prepared to be deceived !
So sometimes buying from a reliable source - nursery or reliable neighbor - is good too !
Of course, even with buying, you can end with a "bad" tree or wrong strain !

Phil...
I think that was mistake with the baggie technique, too damp... Will definitely try again next year though...

Jdsfrance...
The rooting hormone was just out of habit I guess, and I know what you mean on the ornamental trees. Few of those in the neighborhood but mostly citrus and avocado that people to have from a seed... I have citrus and avocados but they are grafted so they do bear fruit... I learned to be patient with those so I know I'll eventually get going on these figs. I'll definitely keep an eye on the progress of cuttings from older or newer branches.

A little side note on mystery figs: about a month ago on a trip to Homedepot, they had one lonely fig tree with no tags on the tree itself or the pot. No visible signs of fruit but it looked real healthy, talked the young manager into a 50% discount cause I figured I wouldn't know what variety it would be till next summer. To my surprise it sprung a lonely fig and it looks like I'll know what my mystery fig will be by the end of this month, hahaha. Being it was from Homedepot, most likely will be a BT or Kadota since they don't carry a huge variety. It has a short stem just like another kadota I have so I think that's what it might be.

There's have been in water for about 3 weeks. What can you guys tell me? I change the water out every 4-5 days and have been using rooting hormone every other time I've changed water. Soil ready?

Regardless of when you put your cutting in soil, you're going to have to ensure the cutting and container are in a high humidity area. Many of us place the cuttings (in cups) into large tupperware containers. One on bottom, one on top.

Ive attached one pix of cuttings i started earlier this year using RootRiot plugs, then moved to large tupperware container to keep humidity levels high.

Hi Elfarach,
For me yes - time to pot in full compost with a plate of water under the pot and put in a greenhouse for humidity and temperature control - avoid temp swinging .
Air the greenhouse every 3 days.

Thanks for the advice. Putting then in soil today.