Detailed instructions
Keep in mind this does not kill mites outright; they starve to death. Evidently it makes the plant taste so bad they can't stand it. :evilgrin0040:
1 gallon water (I use distilled by recommendation, not sure it's essential)
3 tbsp ground cloves
3 tbsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp Italian seasoning
3 clusters (not cloves) fresh garlic
Buy the cheapest seasonings you can find (i grab 'em at the dollar store, except for the fresh garlic). Combine all ingredients in a suitable pot. Crush the garlic to release the oils. I add the skins and all, to save time. Peeling garlic is a pain. Bring the entire mixture just to a boil, and then simmer on low heat for 30 minutes. It will form a slimy sludge. Using a fine mesh strainer (the finer the better, but no need for a coffee filter), strain the mixture so it can be used in a spray bottle. Throw the sludge and spice mix into your compost pile. The leftover mix will be a strong-smelling liquid. I dilute that liquid 50/50 with water and spray the heck out of the plants. Your garden will smell like an italian dinner (complete with tirimisu) for about a day. This will discourage the mites and they will seek greener pastures. It will store fine in the fridge- you'll have enough for at least 4-5 spray bottles.
Keep in mind, this is for control- it's not exactly the cheapest way, and it will not rid your grow of mites forever. The thing I like about it it that it has a "half-life" of about a week, and it's totally non-toxic to humans. I wouldn't use it if you have less than a week til harvest, but I've used it 7 days out with NO residual flavoring of the buds.
Mad thanks to Adam, who gave me the recipe. He claims to have used it every 2 days for 2 weeks straight and the mites never came back. I'm a little skeptical on that, but I do know it works very well on a temporary basis. Peace
