I received some cuttings from several sources green and scion (I think!  they had no growth and looked dead).  I tried the scion in perlite in a bag, they molded and rotted.  Then I tried to save them and put them in a bag rolled in newspaper - totally failed.    The green cuttings were put in water - I didn't have sp moss, didn't have enough containers for perlite so I went with water in a glass on my kitchen counter.

Now I regret doing that.  They did root in water which is encouraging but.... they are water roots.  Could I now put them in a bag, container of sorts with sp moss to get regular roots?

I really hate the idea of losing these too.

A picture would really help. If the roots are still short you will probably be fine to put them in a cup. New roots emerging would be a good thing too. Figs are tough, they could do fine.

The roots are pretty long - I got busy at work for a couple of months and time got away from me - tomorrow.....

I forgot to mention - leaves are growing also! 

I think I will go with a heavier potting soil, one that is not a quick draining.  We still have temps in the 90s for the next week

Ficus encompasses many types.  Prior to learning about Carica, Benjamina was all I knew, and I made many baby house plants of Benjamina just like you did by rooting in water.  I just stuck them in pots in dirt, and didn't worry back in those days.  They all grew, and I imagine Ficus Carica will do the same.

I got some that rotted too, but I blame it on the trip across the miles in hot summer heat.  For where I live, and the heat we have, dormants are best for me.  Not sure how dormants do rooting in water though.

Good luck to you!

Suzi

Moisture + heat = rot

I also got sent through the mail some desireable cuttings during the heat of summer that didn't make it. Sometimes there is nothing you can do when cells get damaged too badly in the heat. 

But I also got others that did quite well. I think summer cuttings can do well if they are not subjected to adverse conditions in the mail, and don't get too much moisture or heat during the rooting process. I personally would never soak a cutting at all, winter or summer, especially if it's during hot weather. But that's just me. YMMV. Just nestle them down dry in the barely moist mix of your choice - I use half perlite, half planter mix because I have it. Others use straight, damp spaghnam moss with great success. Then put them in a location with the right mix of warmth, humidity and air and then wait...

There are of course many ways to successfully start cuttings, and perhaps we are using different meanings of the word 'soak'. :) If anyone finds a way that works in their environment, stick with it. I've just found for me that too much moisture is a main enemy. I do have the time to micromanage my cuttings however, and will use a spray bottle to keep the humidity up and temps down on very dry, hot days.

My part of SoCal is dry, but generally not hot at all. We've had only a few days that have just reached into the low 90s this summer (unfortunately about the time I recieved the really 'desirable' cuttings), though a good number in the 80s. No AC, though some days that surely would be nice. :)