Last weekend I took 80 cuttings from a very large fig tree.  (I don't have the name, some Italian Honey variety)  I put them in a clear rubbermaid container 32" x 20"x 13" and layered them in there with a total of 8" of moist Sphagnum Moss.  I gave it bottom heat and installed a wireless thermometer to make sure they would not get too hot.  Well today I checked on them.  The temp at the top was 80 degrees but when I dug down to the bottom steam was released like a compost pile.  I took everything out.  The cuttings look really dry and it takes some effort to stick a fingernail in and check for green underneath.  There is green but I'm really worried.  They also have a little mold starting where the old leaves fell off.  Are they dead?  Did I cook them?  I think I should start over.  If I have 8" of moss/cuttings, how do I regulate the temp throughout?  If I don't use bottom heat the thermometer reads about 64 degrees inside the container.  Is that too cold?  Is It warmer in the middle?  I was trying to do it right, but I think it was an epic fail!

I would take one of them and cut it in the middle.  If it still looks like viable plant material, I would try again with the better looking ones.  As far as regulating the temperature, you could put them near/on-top of the water heater.  I keep my house at around 68-70 this time of year and I have not had a problem with getting roots to develop with this temperature.  I keep them near the air return under a dark garbage bag.  I definitely would not keep heat under them.  If you can't regulate the heat, you might try putting a towel between the heat and the container to help lower the temperature inside the box.

If you're new to rooting, I'd stick to plastic shoebox bins.  Layer of barely damp sphagnum moss, 4 cuttings, layer of moss, 4 more cuttings, then finally top with moss.  Place lid on and place the bin somewhere in the house at room temp.  They'll root with 68 degree temps, but at a slower rate.  Less chance of drying out the cuttings too.

Grrrrr  What do I use to inhibit the mold?  I was thinking about dipping them in something.

Wipe them down with bleach wipes before putting into container will help.

And... this is one of several reasons folks recommend against bottom heat.  64 degrees is fine, it just might take a little longer to strike roots.

At least I have not paid for the cuttings.  Ok I'll start over.  Anti bacterial soap, then bleach water.  Do I cut to size b4 or after this process.  I would think I should cot the bottom just before they go in the moss as I would like to use Dip N Grow.  No real reason except I have it.

Sadly,

I have done that before. After you have salvage the cutting, keep a close eye on it. For some odd ball reason, mold has a tendency to devour cooked cuttings

No, I'm going to toss these and start over fresh.  Chalk it up to experience.

Yes satellitehead,   I agree, I started a batch 4  weeks ago, kept them around 60 degrees, no mold, no problems,they are growing beautifully,  anyway there is no rush we are only in february there is plenty of time. A couple years ago I started in Dec-Jan, had cuttings everywhere, in the kitchen, the bathroom the bedroom closet, ended up loosing many to mold, spindly green growth and the darn gnats.
Now I wait or start  them in a cool environment. Les stress and more success.
All the best

I have been using sp moss with great success - no mold, no fungus gnats when cupped.  I have them in various parts of the house depending on the temp.  I have some in a closet that is about 70, we keep the thermostat around 74.  The house humidity hovers in the 40-50% range.

I've done this before. I tried to do too many on one container. I would split them up so you can manage them better.

Jennifer, the reason mold devours cooked cuttings is because the destroyed plant material can no longer fight it off.  Mold is essentially landing on everything all the time but a healthy stable plant easily fends it off.  

Aaron...I have the same type of set up that you're using (large plastic bin, heat pad with thermostat, etc.)  I lay the heat pad on the bottom of the bin, then an old bath towel on top of that, with a large baking rack on top of that for air space(the type you use to set a cake on after baking). and finally one more towel....all cuttings go into 1gal zip lock bags of Orchid moss, then all the bags go into a large black plastic bag for darkness...the thermostat on the heat pad is set to 80 degrees.  No problems with mold or rot... but lots of roots !!   I also do the same thing by placing the bagged cuttings next to my wood burning stove...85 degrees all winter...no problems with rooting... 

it would be an interesting experiment to take some of the "cooked" cutting and see if they do root or not?
That way you'll know next time, IF this happens again, that you've messed up or not.
The only way to know is to try rooting some.

If there's green the cuttings are still alive and I'd try to root some. You have to get all of the old leaf stem off or it will mold.