How alive do buds have to look to be alive? I ask this because I have cutting with buds that stick out and are green, brown, or even a reddish color. I assume that the brown buds with become green under the right conditions right? Some buds are flat and barely noticeable on the nodes appearing lifeless. Is it possible that this flat lifeless buds will swell becoming a new branch or leaf. Some of my cutting only have one "fat" green bud that is below the soil while the rest are flat and stick above. I just want to know before i cut them off.

I wouldn't remove any buds. Fully dormant buds are usually brown, but green if the "scales" are removed. Buds that are breaking dormancy and which had shed their scales woud be green.

what causes the flat buds to become active and how long does that take on a new cutting