Rooting Timeline
When should I buy cuttings, and when should I start the rooting process? If you watched the above video, you would have learned that you should work your way backwards from the date that the cutting will be small trees.
You can buy cuttings early, but you will have to store them in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, and there is a simple process for doing that.
I live in hardiness zone 6b, and I root about 200 – 400 cuttings every year. If I were to start the rooting process in September, after the cuttings have rooted, I will have to store them somewhere indoors for several months. It will be too cold to keep them outside, and I don’t have a greenhouse. Well, I don’t have a dedicated indoor space for so many rooted cuttings, and calculating the optimum starting date is important. 
If you’re only rooting a small number of cuttings, feel free to kick off the process whenever it suits you. Since you’ll only need a modest amount of space to root them, it’s a convenient and flexible undertaking. Once they’ve rooted, you can easily transfer them to larger pots to encourage healthy growth. Whether you’re working with a few favorites or experimenting with new varieties, it’s a simple and low-maintenance way to propagate your plants!
You will have to deal with keeping the newly rooted fig tree cuttings watered, and you have to provide the appropriate temperature, space, and lighting for all of the plants you need to plan for this.
Be warned, though, if you purchase fig cuttings too early—say, around September—the chances are high that they’ll be green. While I personally prefer dormant cuttings, I’ve still had decent success rooting green ones. However, there’s an important consideration when buying green cuttings: the shipping time. The longer it takes for the cutting to make its way to you, the greater the risk of rot setting in. Green cuttings are more delicate, and if they spend too much time in transit, they may not make it. So, if you’re aiming for the best success, timing is everything. Dormant cuttings, on the other hand, offer a bit more flexibility and resilience in this department.
So, follow the way I calculate my starting data in the video above, and you will be fine.
If you’d like to reach out to me privately, please use the contact form on this site
Stay tuned, keep on rootin’ and happy growing!