So I've collected about 20-30 cuttings taken from the trees of family members and other local trees. Many have sprouted roots...I've used the ziplock bag method leaving the tips untouched by paper towels.

The problem is... Most of the roots are sprouting from the "top" of the cutting and not the bottom!

Any suggestions/ideas/advice?

They're definitely vigorous little sticks!

You always have the option to bury the whole cutting so the top roots are underground which is what I do but, you can also pot it normally, if roots are at the bottom as well and the roots in the air will dry up and fall off.

Hi Joeturbo26,
Bury them till the roots are in your potting mix.
The bottom might be dead so waiting on it would not help.
If you wait too long the roots might dry, and the cutting could then dry.
You should put in use the roots you already have - at least this is what I would do .