I started some fig cuttings mid-Nov and transferred to 1-gallon nursey pots during the holidays.  About a week ago all pots went outside to harden off in the shade.  Night time lows are predicted to be 40F a couple of nights next week.  Should I bring the pots back inside?

I would bring them inside.  It's possible they'd do ok or go dormant and be able to come back but I wouldn't chance it.  Others might.

Steve,

I have to agree with Bob. You went this far so why chance it?
Play the safe game and take them inside. Better safe than sorry.

Good luck

Yes 40 to cold i don't even do the fig shuffle @ 40.
Just my opinion though there your plants.  ; )

If it's a cutting you rooted recently, I wouldn't leave it at anything below 50. Having said that, I have few rooted cutting with well developed roots sent to me this fall that are doing fine down to high 30 in my garage. But the day temp is always above 50.

I have 50 or so rooted cuttings outside now in 1 gallon pots and they have had temps down to the upper 30's a few nights and many many nights in the low 40's with no problem.  I think as long as the days warm up so they are not sitting in constant damp and cold they are just fine.  

With those conditions, I think you will lose a fair amount

Blb,

Why do you feel that way?   Growing in the south is very different from up north.  While your ground is cold and wet ours is warm and dry even on a cold 40 degree night the ground radiates heat.  Where your daytime highs are only in the 40's and 50's ours are in the 70's and 80's.  The cycle between warm days and cool nights I believe is good for plants.   You of course would not want them to get a frost or a freeze but a few nights in the 40's will be fine.  I counted today and my estimate of 50 was  a bit off, there are 72 currently and have not lost one yet.   

Thanks for all the input.  Just like our favorite starting method we all have different opinions.  It is a moot point now since lows are supposed to be near 35 later in the week.  That is a temperature I'm not willing to take a chance on.  All my cuttings are coming back inside that night.

I had a big batch of cuttings that had many duplicates so I put 1/2 in my office(70deg) under grow lights and 1/2 in my greenhouse(day75-95, night 38-50). To make a long story short I think the greenhouse figs were stunted by the cooler temps. From what I have recently read is the roots don't work as well in cool soil. I have since added another heater so night temps are high 50-60's.

WillsC You are correct, our conditions are different as are our willingness to gamble

I had some cuttings outside and it got down to 34 degrees. I thought they would be toast by the time I got back but they are doing fine. It doesn't stay cold in the day though and the sun still blazing in day. Crazy temps recently. Was into the 80's last week and now mid to upper 30's at night. I'm lovin the cool weather. It's the best it'll ever get here in land of the sun.

Daniel,

Well, after nearly two months of fig shuffle experience I feel like at expert.  : )

First I agree with those that say, "how much do you want to risk".  Forget about cold, a couple of nights ago golf ball sized hail was predicted here.  I brought in 4 of my most important figlets, the rest were left to deal with the severe weather.  No hail, but heavy rains.  So far, so good.

In the 2 months since I asked this question here is what I have learned.  40F at NIGHT is still my cutoff.  If the figlets had to stay out in sustained 45F temps day and night, I'd probably bring them in.  In all cases, every night that has gotten below 40F the next day temps were well above 50F so I wouldn't have had any concerns putting them back outside.  In reality though the figlets stayed in the house until night temps were consistently above 40F (I'm not doing the fig shuffle on 20 or 30 figlets before I go to work in the morning).

Here's my real world example.  Tonight's temp is predicted to get to 46F, tomorrow during the day 73F, tomorrow night 52F, Saturday 77F.  The figlets are staying outside.

Daniel,

A couple of more data points to add.  Predicted 47F tonight, 70F tomorrow, 47F Thur night.  No fig shuffle for me, the figlets are staying outside.