The longer it stays on the faster it will recover. I usually wait until the container is full of roots and the rootball will stay together when the container is removed. Mine usually take 1 1/2-2 months to fully develop.

I started my first airlayering sometime last summer and left it on til early this spring. I saw that the roots were plentiful and had curled around the inside of the plastic bottle . I removed the limb when it was just breaking dormancy. Jt started growing new leaves very quickly in its own pot. It was a very pretty little tree and I gave it to someone special.

I layered a 7 foot long or more branch last summer. This early spring there were some roots but not many, maybe 8" or so on one side.

I transplanted it and it appears to be leafing and growing great. We have a long, wet, overcast spring though which probably helps it establish. I wonder how it would have done if I skipped the layering step.

Note, this was regular layering, not air layering, but I assume it should respond similarly.

Figs root so easily I figured any roots at all would probably transplant well.

If you are transplanting to a pot it should be relatively easy to give it some shade and keep it moist while it recovers.

If you are anxious to do the transplant you might try severing 80-90% of it and let it be for a week or two. If it stays happy finish it off. Just a thought.