I've seen air layering advised by some of the experts here, but I have also started fig cuttings in water and transferred them to soil. I've got a big stem that can't stay on the plant (it's out of bounds), so will probably try to air-layer that one
Most recently, I did the "cutting thing" with dormant stem cuttings, but no rooting hormone and no fancy temperature calculations. I took the cuttings in April because I needed to prune the plant, stuck them in a pot of potting mix (about an inch apart), watered it moderately (once), and put a plastic bag over the entire pot. It lived on the bottom shelf of my plant rack for a month or so while my tomatoes were growing up above, then moved outside to a shady spot (with leaves but still with plastic bag) when the weather warmed up. About two weeks ago I potted up the rooted cuttings individually - 4 of 5 rooted satisfactorily. I'd do it that way again - minimal work for the results.

Good luck - Robin

Simple layering is a surefire method. I haven't tried air layering, but it is reported to be nearly always successful as well. Cuttings are fairly easy, prunings can often be rooted just by sticking them down in the pot with the parent tree with no extra care, but hormone and a humidity bag increase success rates.

George