Just some general questions to those forum members who have tried all methods of propagation:

Would you say, from your experiences, that Air-Layering is more successful than trying to root cuttings?

All indications seem to point that Air-Layering is the way to go.  I've read too many postings that say the cuttings can fail to root for a number of reasons, but can't recall ever reading that an Air-Layer failed...or, consistently failed, to produce the desired results.

Just wanted to ask.

Frank

Even this dumb a$$ got air layering down the first time.

Rooting was intimidating the first time. But after experimenting for a while I got it down.

Air layering seemed a little more straight forward and simple.

I've only done it two times (air layering)so far but both times it worked. PATIENCE is the key though. Rooting for me was sometimes disappointing with about a 50-50 split, I like air layering better because in 5-7 weeks you have an already established tree!

air layer - 100%
hardwood cutting - ~80%
soft/greenwood cutting - 0%
hard/greenwood cutting - 90%

that's where i am now. i'm sure the number will go down as time goes on. i don't care too much for the air layer. they are really simple and easy, only thing is it's hard to package when trading or sending out to the others. if there are ready made boxes, i wouldn't mind air layer at all.

I am 4 for 4 this year on air-layering. Three of those are from my mother-in-law's tree where my cutting success rate is about one out of ten!

Air-layering is pretty much 100%. The problem with air-layering is that someone has to have the tree available for 4-10 weeks during the process. If you are in a different city, state, country, it makes it hard to do, thus the use of cuttings in the majority of cases.

From my experience in very humid and tropical climate :

1. Air layering propagation is more simple , faster and having 100% success rate. but more difficult to deliver a plant package for trade/exchange , especially to overseas colleagues.
- Using rooting hormone ( IBA 100-200 ppm ) on air layering could speed up time of  the rooting process from 4-5 weeks to  2-3 weeks.
- Plant from Air layering propagation could start producing fruit faster ( 4-5 months ) than by stem cutting

2. Stem cutting propagation , little bit more complex , longer process and difficult , the success rate is about 25-30% , but very easy for delivery ,  trade/exchange for a new figs and could produce a lot of stock.

Its only my personal opinion from my limited experience about stem cutting process.

Excellent...Excellent!

Just what I needed to read in print.

Thank-you so much for the candid critiques, and adding the demerits concerning air-layering, and subsequent shipping problems.

It seems that air-layering is almost  a sure guarantee that you will have a tree in a short while.

Now, I know.

Frank

Air layering is great but you must be patient. If you cut it off before the root ball is big enough to support the top growth that is when you run into problems. Air layering also uses more wood than cuttings. 

I like both methods but on slow growers and tough rooters airlayers are the way to go.

Air layering is great but you must be patient. If you cut it off before the root ball is big enough to support the top growth that is when you run into problems. Air layering also uses more wood than cuttings. 

I like both methods but on slow growers and tough rooters airlayers are the way to go.