Well I had seedling flat separated i half, one half medium grained sand and the other, a peat based potting soil. The ones on sand rooted much faster than the soil ones and the ones on soil rotted or moulded easier. It might be because the sand stayed warmer or was drier, not sure, but it worked better. As for water, that will probably work, but in the hypotonic solution of water, the roots will be very sensitive if place in any soil and will not be lignified enough to structurally support the cutting
Temperature is a more important factor than light, I find this to be true in general.
Um, the lights and winter set-up is all put away in storage now. I had a party at my house a couple weeks back and my GF made my put all my plant stuff away
since the trees are all outside now.