Hi everyone,
 There are many topics on rooting cuttings but I'm curious if there are any general guidelines to successfully rooting cuttings outside. I have to confess I find rooting cuttings scary and I'm hoping that doing it outside would be easier. Any information on this would be appreciated!

 Thanks,
  Peter

Same as inside, for the most part.

You still have to control temperature and moisture. Often in the south, where humidity is high, outdoors is quite doable by potting and placing them in the shade.

I'm no expert at this, but I did once root an unknown fig variety outdoors (in ground).  I just took an 8" cutting and buried all but the top inch or two.  Soil was loose and a bit sandy.  I watered it once thoroughly at first and then after that only when it looked dried out.  It was in a shady spot until it had a couple of months growth to get established.  It was at the start of the season, just as other trees were starting to leaf out.  It worked. 

I second that i did exactly that took 4 cuttings and basically i scraped the bottom like a carrot and just planted them ive also been told by the oldies they would smash the bottom with a rock/hammer and just bury it same way and they just grow everytime when i talk to an old timer about a fig tree its....yeah i just took a piece of my brothers tree 20yrs ago and just stuck it in the ground and this is what i have so i did the same thing ive done the bag/paper towl method with success ive also just put the cutting in water with success and ive just put cuttings in small 3in pots no roots etc in a tupperware with a cover/greenhouse and had success try anything listed your gonna get a tree out of it one way or another 

Just ecently i was moving my Native Argentile fig plant and a seasoned branch just snap off to my surprise. So took branch and cut the top portion stuck in small pot and put under the tallest hostas for shade .
I 've rooted figs like this outdoors in past hiding them under my hostas.

I just saw this yesterday:  

Thanks for the link. I've read many, many old threads here and had wondered where Dan had gone. There seems to be a wealth of information there that I'll be happy to also read. :)

I quite enjoy Dan's blog--lots of good info. I enjoyed his recent post giving some history on the LSU fig program, which I had known nothing about.

Well, I am glad to see he is still at it. I have yet to hear an apology for his insults in parting from the forum, and returning under different names (which appear on his blog). I find it hard to read his blog because of the bad taste in my mouth. I hope he realizes that the people who love figs are just as important as the fruits and we all make our own contributions for the better of the community. It is not a competition, no-one is "the king" here.

I rooted my best cutting last year outdoors, if roots appear before shoots then the cutting can go directly into sunshine, provided the roots are kept cool. check it out.http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Rooting-with-a-silver-lining.-5396103?highlight=silver

Have rooted many summer cuttings or left overs cuttings given by fig friends here. Basically I pot them in good drainage medium - like using perlite bark mulch with top soil. Water them well. Either I placed a plastic bag over them or use an aquarium to cover them. keep them in partial shade. The aquarium is like a green house and if the day is hot, I place a small piece of wood to let air in from the bottom. Works good. Like Jon said -- temperature & humidity.

Huge fan of Dan here, but never had a problem rooting outside.  Actually, that is the only way I do it.  Lay the cutting down in a trench, cover with 1/2" loose soil, and leave it.  Let it go.  Lazy man's way, but I'm a lazy girl, and I love easy that works!
Suzi

I'll have to try this. Sometimes, lazy is good. Besides, the rest of the garden is starting to take most of my time.