I’m not familiar with that either but I found the label. That’s always good to read, especially the list of what to not use it on. You’ll find that on the right, near the top. Apple, lemon, sugar cane, tobacco and others, but probably not anything you are going to start inside. Still an interesting list.
Label Info
http://www.bioworksinc.com/products/rootshield-hg/rootshield-hg-label.pdf
There was no withdrawal period since it is a living organism and should last all season. The only warning was to keep it out of your eyes. I don't consider those warnings too bad.
Damping off is a generic term that covers a lot of stuff caused by different microbes. This product looks like it will control a lot of them, but probably not all. Like many other people here I’ve had it too, some years worse than others and some years not at all.
One year I had it extremely bad. I used a potting mix instead of a starting mux and it just would not release the water and dry out. I sprinkled maybe 1/4” to ½” of dry play sand on top. That seemed to help and I at least got some plants. That was a bad year. I don’t know if dry sand is what pulled them through or not, but I was desperate and it seemed to make a difference.
I chatted with the lady that runs the local family-owned garden center about it. She said to run a fan to dry out the top of the soil after they had sprouted. I bought a small fan last year when they finally came “in season”, long after I’d already started my plans so I have it available now if needed. I may set it up anyway once they sprout.
The problem is often caused by the conditions being wet. I think cool also works against you, at least for some types. But if you keep it dry you won’t get good germination. I put a cover on mine to keep it moist enough so they will germinate and they don’t all germinate at the same time. And if you run a fan you have to make sure it doesn’t dry out too much and kill the starts that way.
It’s a timely topic. Good luck!
