Right now I put a few cutting from my Celeste in water bottles with distilled water and near a window. That is all. Will this method lead to effective rooting, or should I use a other medium like perlite or soil? I can't help but think that the cuttings will eventually rot from being only in water after a few weeks.

I'm looking to avoid any complex rooting methods as I don't have means fir a humidity chamber, etc.

Simple is key.

Advice is welcomed!

I have rooted many types of cuttings in a water glass on a window sill, including figs... It works.... I can't say what the success / failure rate is as I have never done a formal set of test cases. I know a number of folks put their cuttings in water until they see the white root precursors popping up and then they throw the cuttings into rooting medium for the final rooting stage. I have a 8" fig twig in water right now from a piece that broke off another plant and it has already starting to form the precursors so i will likely put the branch into barely damp medium this weekend, cover it with a baggie to create a micro humidity bin and then see if it finishes rooting....

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/the-best-rooting-method-i-found-over-the-years-6717809?pid=1295824056

This is the method I have used most successfully indoors. The key is to not transfer to straight potting mix once rooted. Mix your mix 50-50 with perlite. 

Outdoors in summer I poke the cutting in a 1 gal pot full of slightly moist mix, cover with a clear plastic bag and leave in indirect light. Elastic band to keep the bag tight. Don't bother it for a month... When you see roots out the bottom... You have a tree. 

No, @torontojoe meant 50% potting mix with 50% perlite

It is possible to just stick it in soil but it depends on your climate. Doing the other stuff is supposed to up your odds

Yes potting mix. Never in garden soil unless you're planting in the garden.

As a rule (and on Aarons advice) my trees don't go into the ground until their third year. They need the maturity to handle our cold winters. At my family's place in Sicily you can pretty much stick a cutting in the ground and a tree develops....

I have always rooted a number of my cuttings in water - especially broken branches as it takes so little effort.
Important to change water at least one time per day or use an air stone.
I use an even larger % of large perlite (80%) and the soil can be farad#52, prolix or just high quality potting soil.
I have left in water until the roots are as long as a foot but recommend you move from water when roots are just an inch or so.
You will find that some cuttings will rot and after a while you will start to recognize what is or isn't going to work (well a certain % anyway).
Good Luck!
mgg

Update

To my suprise I checked the cuttings and they rooted already. All I used was Nestle's Pure Life bottled water and put them on a counter near a window.

Odd thing is that I never changed the water. Also, they rooted quickly; only one week in water.

Highly recommend Nestle Pure Life!

Hi,
I only have one explanation: Celeste is a weed.
I have left other strains in water for as long as 3 weeks not getting any roots - only white spots. I changed the water every day or every other day.
I then change them to a pot with potting mix. I use this method in July.
Now it is getting late to root the cuttings with no additional help ( heat and lighting and warm greenhouse to keep them going during the winter).
Still 10 days ago I grabbed a limb from over my head to reach to a ripe fig, and just heard a damn craaaaaaack .
I cut the limb clean as not to leave a bad wound on the tree.
The branch is sitting in a barrel full of water. I'll have to change it to a high pot soon.
This time of the year is not ideal to root, but the tree was my "healthy longue d'aout". I couldn't just trash the limb.
I'll put the pot in my cold greenhouse and see what she does.
Did I already mention the other 8 almost ripe figs that were on that limb and that I had to cut and trash ...
Will you keep them going during the winter ? Or will you try to let them go dormant  (too risky IMO)?

I wish I could find it again but I remember the important points.
I read a study where  they tested 216 brands of bottled water and they only recommend one -- and it was Nestle's.

Rooting in water works great on certain cuttings. Spring cuttings work great and it is the only method I'll try on all green shoots.
If the cuttings don't show signs of root growth in 2 weeks I move to perlite/dirt.
I'm about to dig out my o2 pump and air stones and valves, etc. and try a bunch of the more expensive varieties (although I sell everything for the same amount.)
I'll also put lights on them 24/7.

My father used to root in water all the time. It worked for him but I've never been able to get it to do anything more than develop those white dots. When I tried it was with an Etna... I did 4 cuttings. they grew leaves and stayed alive for months... finally I got tired of waiting and put them in potting mix. The all rooted after that.

I have no idea why.... Water will not be my go to method....

I root all cuttings in ziplock bags with soil or ziplock containers with soil. Pretty humid and wet, some LED light.  I think this humidity kept high is very important for cuttings with leaves on them.  The condensation keeps the leaves hydrated.  

Many ways to skin the cat for sure. Asking the best way to propagate is akin to asking what is the best fertilizer and how often to use it.... There'll never be a definitive answer... 

I used the jar of water method and I didn't have much luck with it.  I think keeping a consistent temperature in your rooting environment is a factor.  I use a heat mat with a cheap, plastic shoe box thing from walmart filled with slightly moist cocoa coir.  

I tried talking to the sticks. If they still refuse to root, I am going to put them into the fireplace :-)

What about Harvey's method here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7_mT0H6Y2U

This is the only method I've used that gave me near 100% success.  But I only did this in spring/summer and outdoors. Will it not work indoors?

Definitely a good method. I've done this a lot indoors but humidity control is essential. They need to be bagged or in humidity bin.

UPDATE

I finally potted the two cuttings from the water bottle. Lots of roots. I lightly added potting soil and then some Nestle Pure Life water to moisten since that's what they've rooted in. Fingers crossed.