I've used a number of different methods for propagation over the 5 seasons I have been propagating figs: paper towel or moss rooting followed by conventional potting up, peat pots, root riot, and mini-SIPs.  All have worked at least ok but the method I'm using this year is the best so far.

 I haven't invented anything new – rather it is a combination of two methods previous described on the forum.  I started with cuttings lacking a terminal bud and wrapped the region to be exposed to air, as well as about ½-1 inch below soil level, with stretched out parafilm (see timclymer method in the first link).  I then scored the bottom of the cutting a bit as well; no rooting hormone was used. 

 Cuttings were “planted” in mini-SIPs made as previously described by ascpete (see links 2-5).  I used a premoistened 2-2-1 mix (coconut coir-peat-perlite) with 1 cup of dolomite agricultural lime per 5 gallons of mix.  Because I had a gnat problem about a month ago I layered on about ½ inch of play sand on top of the mix in each mini-SIP; omit this if you don’t have gnats.  On the day I set up a cutting I add about ¼ inch of water to the reservoir but under my conditions I don’t usually need to add more water until the cutting is starting to show roots and leaves.  I then keep about ¼-1/2 of water (with ¼-1/2 teaspoon of foliage pro per gallon) in the reservoir at all times.  What you want to see at steady-state is that the top ~ 1/3 of the soil is dry (lighter colored) while the rest is moist.  Mini-SIPs work great if you can get the right combination of mix and wicking action so that the proper amount of water is being pulled into the mix.

 A humidity bin is not needed.  However, because my room is rather cold (60-65 degrees) I put my mini-SIPs in a bin with a heating mat under so that they are around 70-80 degrees.  There is no moisture in the bin except for what comes from the mini-SIPs themselves.  The cuttings in the photos were started a various times (Jan. 17, first week of Feb. and last weekend).  The January cuttings are all doing well.  I’ll post additional results later.  I plan to keep them growing in the mini-SIPs until they are partly hardened off to conditions outdoors in the Spring and then pot them up.

The advantages of this method are that: (1) it is a one step method; there are no separate rooting and potting up steps, (2) you always know how much water to add, (3) you can use very large cuttings (as opposed to root riot) as well as small ones, and (4) a bin is not needed (other than for temperature).

http://www.threefoldfarm.org/blog/simple-fig-propagation

http://insideurbangreen.typepad.com/.a/6a00e39824809288330168e925c2a0970c-pi

http://www.insideurbangreen.org/recycled-popsoda-bottles/    

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenscaper/sets/72157604735985648/

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1280956060&postcount=89

Steve - great setup! I like the idea of the mini-SIPs.

I LOVE the idea of SIP. 
I'm a newbie and am not up to my terminology so please forgive - what is a terminal bud? Can saran do the same thing that parafilm is suppose to do?
What are you using for a 'wick'? look like cotton?

Thanks for sharing, Steve. Glad you found something that works for you.

What is a mini sip?? I know what your thinking. .... newbie

luigiwu, the terminal bud is the same as the apical bud i.e. the outer end of a growing branch.  I would not advise using saran wrap.  You want a material that is stretchy and a little waxy to seal the moisture into the cutting.  You also want it to be weak enough for a growing bud to break through it.  Try googling "parafilm grafting tape" for the product I am using - it's relatively cheap.  Sorry the links I provided don't seem to describe the fabric for the wick.  It is a 6 in x 1 in strip of Pellon Thermolam Plus that is cut lengthwise down the middle except for the final 1 inch which is the part that dangles into the reservior.  The final link describes the wick in more detail.

Richard, check out the bottom 4 links I provided and my pics.  There are many designs but the one I am using is made from 2L soda bottles.  The principle is that water from a reservoir saturates a wick and travels along the wick to the potting mix in a separate compartment.  This provides an ample amount of moisture to the soil but does not saturate the soil which is what usually causes cuttings to rot.

Oh, and SIP stands for "sub-irrigated planter".  They are sometimes also called "self watering containers".

Steve

I am glad to see you are having success. I already went thru the wringer last year with FMDs sips, I can't switch at this point but I always admired Pete's methods, nice work.

Rafael, that reminds me I forgot to give a hat-tip to FMD whose post last year on mini-SIPs was a revelation for me.  But I agree that some designs have issues i.e. soil stays too wet.  It's a learning process.

Way to go Steve. Great looking work. I'm trying a few ways of rooting and the mini sip method seams to be the one!! I also set up a couple with cactus soil from Mg and they like it a lot! Thanks for sharing.

Here is an update on cuttings I started between mid-Jan and mid-Feb.  10/12 are showing roots visible to the wall of the mini-SIP and nearly all are showing leaves or swollen/green buds.  Only one seems to have failed - a Filacciano Bianco cutting that I suspected was cold damaged from the beginning.  The one that is showing the most leaves and roots is Black Madeira.  I haven't really experienced a variety that is harder to root than others - in my hands the success has more to do with the quality of the cuttings themselves, how they were stored, etc.

Looks good.
Do you have any trouble getting the fig out of the container when up-potting?

Pino, taking the rooted cutting out is fairly easy.  I just press against the wall of the SIP in several locations to loosen the soil from the wall, turn it over, and usually it comes out pretty easily.  There are always a few roots that still cling to the wick but the vast majority of roots are fine.

Hey Steve

Great job on getting your cuttings going and demonstrating your process. Good luck this year!

Mark, onew of the Vista cuttings has leafed out and has good roots.  It is on the bottom row of the 1st pic and is the 2nd going from left to right.  On the 2nd pic it is in the top row and is the 3rd one going from left to right.  Thanks again!

Great! Good news. Temps like today and we will all be outside unwrapping!