So I am now overloaded with fig cuttings and have been in ziplock bags for about a week, so I'm expecting to start to see some small white dots any day now.

My question is, now that temps in RI have moved past the frost mark at night, can I just work out of my hoophouse with these cuttings, or will I need to transition them over time from grow lights to outside? Temps at night are 45 or so right now, with daytimes temps in the hoophouse being in the 80's.

Any opinions?

Mike

I would keep unrooted cuttings over 70, 75 is better.  80 is probably close to the max you want them but one guy reports going to 84.

Mike,
I would agree with Bob C. Rooting in sphagnum will progress quickly at 75 deg F. After potting if temperature is maintained above 70 deg F the rooted cutting will grow very quickly. also cuttings can grow quite well in natural lighting.

from my experience if the potted cutting is exposed to large temperature swings it will negatively affect (slow) the growth.

Once rooted, if there are no leaves, you may put them directly in the sun without transitioning them.  The new leaves will adapt right away.

Thanks guys. They are in plastic bags in the house above the fridge waiting for roots start to develop. Once they develop, I was hoping to put them in cups right outside in the hoop house, rather then inside and under grow lights. I guess I'll have to make a judgement call on the temperature swings and see what happens.