this is a technique i learned from StinkyAttic (thanks Stinky).

the key here is gentle, gentle, gentle.

in the pics you can see that i pre-soak my hydroton (get hygromite if you don't already have hydroton, it's better for the plants)
as you can see, you put the rooted end of the cutting into the net pot with some hydroton, then you fill up the pot with hydroton while still in the water. doing it this way is much more gentle on the roots