Thank you again for the prompt response.  I was unable to use the new method because I do not have a vacuum sealer nor do I have the appropriate sized bags, so I went with the old system.  I tranferred my 2 cuttings to the cups with holes in a coarse perlite 80% compost 20% mix, but here is my problem.  One of the cuttings had mold on much of it (as well as little roots), I washed the cutting and wiped away most of the mold, but now I am worried the moldy cutting will spread mold to the better looking cutting.  I will keep the environment ventilated (it's a cooler) but should I ditch the moldy cutting or try to save it?  Thanks,

Rafael

paulandirene:  Did those air pillows work out for you?  I have a ton of them.  My kids like stomping on them to make a big popping noise.  I was thinking of getting rid of them, but that would be great to recycle them if they actually worked for you.    

The air pillows work pretty well.  They are various shapes, some of them pretty large so they hold a lot of the rooting mix. The bags are thin enough that they are easy to slit with a razor blade....making them easy to remove. My rooting percentage is not very good...we have big temperature swings in the spring [wood stove heat so the house doesn't stay an even temperature], and the climate is very dry. However I will persevere!

Bump

Instead of using plastic bags, I'm using plastic water bottles. I cut both sides until the bottom, do all the necessary thing and band it together with a rubber band. It's been 10 days and I haven't seen anything yet. If all goes well I can still use these bottles for the next batch.

I know that this is a old thread, but where does one find these bags those like it. I can't seem to find them.

You can choose your size from here

http://www.discountplasticbags.com/categories/Poly-Bags/2-Mil-Poly-Bags/

I use 3x14 mostly now.  If your cuttings tend to be 6" long and very straight 2x8 or 2x10 will work fine.  I like to fold the top over so it doesn't collapse as easily.  You also have to have the cutting ay least an inch off of the bottom.  Agricultural perlite #3 works best for this.  Hydroponics stores usually have it.

On the subject of mold:

I am far from an expert on rooting cuttings. But I made a mistake and I wanted to share it because I think this helped me figure out a mold issure and might help other who made this mistake and lost cuttings due to mold for apparently no reason.

I got a few cuttings recently. I cleaned the cuttings on arrival per this procedure: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1271216711&postcount=58 and I have stored them in the fridge per this procedure (see the danab_z9_la comment): http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1872252/cuttings-in-the-fridge . Currently I am rooting my cuttings in this style: http://figs4fun.com/Rooting_Bag_New_Style.html

So I have the translucent 'greenhouse' (13" deep Safelite tub), 3"x8" poly bags with drainage hole in the corners, the cutting in the bags have a drainage stanoff at the bottom of the container, the rooting mix is 1/4" screened pearlite (75%) and spagnum moss (25%). The sterlized cuttings are misted with reverse osmosis water. And the lid is propped so there is a small amount of ventilation while retaining humdity.

Sounds like I am doing everything right.
- Air flow which means no stagnant humid air
- Sterlized cuttings and rooting medium so there is no food for mold to grow on. And any surface mold on the cuttings was removed as part of the sterilization process.

But about 4 days later my cuttings started to mold!!

I was trying to figure it out. So I re-sterilized my cuttings got everything set up and I am about to make new rooting mix. I reach for the bag of perlite and then it hits me....

The Perlite was just what I grabbed at the hardware store. The brand - MiracleGro. So I look at it for a few seconds, turn it over and see that it was treated with a light fertilizer spray!! There was my mold food source right there!

So I went online and found some extra-coarse screen Perlite with no added fertilizer. Same thing with the spagnum moss.

I am now rooting again following the same sterilization procedure and with sterile / no-fertilizer added rooting medium and so far no mold!

I hope this helps anyone else who had some unknown failures after doing this procedure. This was something that I should have been aware of at the outset, but it was a rookie mistake.