I have three cuttings that I got on ebay.  They arrived Monday and were left in the mailbox all afternoon with weather close to 100 degrees.  One of the cuttings already has leaves coming out on it.  (I am assuming the high temperature caused it to break dormancy or are they not dormant yet?)  Should I pick off the new leaves or will they not hinder the rooting process  They are in pots, outside in an area that gets filtered sun (under the patio table that has a frosted top).  I didn't out a bag over the pot, nor did I use cut soda bottles since we have fairly high humidity.   Should I be doing anything differently?

Do figs have to go into dormancy?  Here in Florida we do get some frosts but rarely for more than a day or two at a time.  Last year was very unusual, we had almost a week of freezing temperatures at night (days were 40's and 50's).  My figs were in pots by the house and never really went dormant.  Should I have moved them into an unprotected area to try to force dormancy?

Lisa
zone 9a
Lakeland, FL

If these cuttings are like the three I received today from an ebay order, then they probably need to be potted in perlite, vermiculite or sterile potting soil soon. Mine came wrapped in a damp paper towel with rooting hormone powder clumped on the lower half inch of the stem. There are root initials growing all over the entire 8" or so stems (except where the powder is clumped). These are healthy cuttings but they are already rooting, and it sounds like yours are already leafing and likely starting roots, so I think you should pot them. That is what I am going to do, and I will try to grow them in a well lighted window this winter.

Lisa, first off welcome to the forum from zone 9 in La. Your weather and mine are just about the same as I'm very near the coast. I have only rooted a few cuttings and was successful doing just as you have. And for your other trees, the declining length of days and sunlight will put them into a short dormant period. My trees are still putting on new growth here usually going fully dormant by Christmas. They also start putting out green buds in late February if we have not had much cold weather by then. That makes for a real long season but the bad thing is those unexpected late freezes or frost. Two years ago I lost all buds on my young trees because of that. It took them another 3 weeks for them put out growth again. For a while I thought I had lost them, but they came back beautifully and stronger than ever. Since I'm planning to start a lot of cuttings later this year, I'm very interested in how you make out with yours. Keep us posted please.