Hello,

I am not sure what to do about a cutting's roots that have started to circle the bottom of it's 16 oz. cup. In the past, I always believed that roots should be spread out when moved to a larger pot or put into the ground, even if it meant cutting some of them. 
I've been reading the posts on removing the plant from a cup without damaging the roots, but (assuming I don't tear them up in the de-cupping process), do I leave them coiled up, or try to spread them out a bit?
This will be a first for me and there may be no problem at all, but right now, I am starting to worry.

TIA,
John

Hold the cup under a running facet with warm water. I run a thin blade around the inside of the cup, then tap and very gently tug. The roots tend to be very  easily broken.  Given the soil mixture is very light and loose, they tend to spread out on their own pretty quickly without breaking up the root ball.

If you shake out the rooting mix, and squeeze the cup, and let it "snap" back into shape, maybe 2-3 times, it will generally free the roots. If that is insufficient, you can tease the remaining roots with a long toothpick, or similar object. 

The circling roots are not a problem. Just be happy you have roots.

I always let my cuttings get root bound, then I set them in a gal and am careful not to disturb the roots. when I do this I do not have any losses when I pot up and the figs grow just fine.Rex.

Thanks to all for the information. I am very grateful.

John