I'm going to have the opportunity to grab cuttings from a few local people as we get closer to dormancy. I've read most of the threads, and watched the ray givens Pbs video.

Ray says that clippings, taken anytime of year will like going in the fridge for a time before being rooted, but it isn't necessary. So he took a fresh, non dormant cutting, clipped off the leaves, and suggested putting that variety on ice for 3 months ideally... different varieities have different preferences. I imagine it simulates dormancy or something.

Now I have clippings from 3 varieties here in water while I research. Not dormant but some lack leaves. Should I refrigerate? I don't mind rooting them through winter but I'd like to limit the space they occupy. Thanks for any help.

Do them now, if you want. Not a problem.

Assuming you have multiple cuttings from the different varieties, why not hedge your bets? Start some now and save some in the fridge in case they fail to root? That way you don't have as many to monitor at one time, also. Of course, that is coming from a guy with little spare space and even less spare time!

What's to add? Between Jon and Aaron I think you are covered. 

I guess I'm wondering if a few days/weeks/months in the fridge increases success rate or not. If I do refrigerate them is there a minimum time they should go in for?

I had some cuttings in the fridge the whole winter and rooted them this spring. As for minimum time or increased chance of rooting from being cold, I can't answer that, but if it did help, I would say 4 to 6 weeks of dormancy would be suffice. Good luck, I'm sure you'll have success.

I've been wondering the same thing.  Hopefully others chime in here.

Don't know that I can defend or document this. Cuttings have a limited viability. I have had cuttings that were a year old and still rooted. However, most cuttings will not last a year in the frig. Most don't last 6 months. I am sure that the quality of the cutting, when it is taken, has something to do with length of viability, as does storage conditions. So, there is a downside to storage. Green cuttings taken in the summer can be rooted when they are fresh (though are more finicky). They do not need refrigeration (dormancy) and probably would not survive it. Green cuttings do not need dormancy, but that does not say whether dormant cuttings need dormancy (cold weather or refrigeration). Somewhere in the middle is what you can get away with, and what is needed. Maybe they don't need dormancy, but can handle it. Maybe they need dormancy but can get along without it.