I really love community-driven social media like Reddit. Lemmy feels… too small. I really loved that Reddit let me jump into any niche hobby, and instantly I had a community. Lemmy, you’ll be lucky if that community even exists, and if it does, chances are nobody has posted in ages.

On the other hand, Lemmy is full of political content lately. I’ve basically been doom scrolling everything US election-related, and it’s really starting to take a toll on my mental health.

I know I can filter content. I know I can post and be the change I seek. Yet, it feels like an uphill battle.

Not sure what the point of this is, or if it’s even the right community to vent about this. I just really want to replace Reddit, but I find myself going back more and more (e.g. r/homekit is very active compared to Lemmy version).

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[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago (1 children)

it just comes across as patronizing to say the only reason my hobbies don’t have traction here must be because I didn’t try hard enough.

It is absolutely patronizing for people to say that. And you are right to feel that way.

Maybe think about it like this. I collect and propagate one species of orchid as a hobby. Its an obscure species among orchids, which are relatively obscure plants among plant collectors, and plant collecting is a relatively obscure thing among people growing with and interacting with plants, which is a relatively obscure thing in the grand scheme of all things.

So lets assume a 5% conversion rate at every step: There are maybe 40k active users on lemmy?

So of 40k users about 2k are into plants.

Of the 2k users into plants in some manner, about 100 are into plant collecting.

Of the 100 users into plant collecting, maybe 5 are into collecting orchids.

And of the five users collecting orchids, I'm the quarter of one user who collects Vanilla planifolia and Vanilla planifolia var. tahitensis.

So if I acknowledge this, I've got a couple options. First, I could just start a vanilla community. But I really shouldn't expect other people to participate, because I recognize that I'm probably the only vanilla grower on all of lemmy. If I do that, I should probably think about it as a place more like a personal blog or place for me to record my story. And maybe over time, it can grow in popularity and get a following.

Alternatively, I can share my exploits on larger subs, like c/plants, where I'll probably do well because there are more users, and the content I'm sharing is interesting and unique because so few people are into/ do what I do.

So if you can adjust your exceptions, there absolutely is a place for you here. But we're the flea market to Reddit's mall of America approach. But remember, Reddit too started as a flea market. It was a place for internet weirdos with weird hobbies and senses of humor. But appreciate you'll be a lone diamond here, but that gives you a chance to stand out.

[–] Fermion@feddit.nl 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Could vanilla orchids do well as a houseplant? I'm zone 7b/8a so I've had success playing around with semi tropical plants, but I don't have greenhouse space to overwinter frost intolerant plants.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I grew them in green houses for years. If you can keep the humidity high (60%+), they'll grow, but you'll won't get flowers.The leaves will be very diminished, and the plant less robust. Two things very different about vanilla compared to other orchids: they aren't an epiphyte; and they grow as a vine.

Typically, in the wild (and many of my cuttings are from 'adventures' to abandoned plantations) Vanilla has a "grow and fall over" vegetative habit. It grows tendrils down to the soil (which turn to accessory roots) following a support plant or structure. Its also extremely apically dominant. It barely branches, and it really, really wants to grow 'straight up'. It takes a substantial amount of training to get them to grow sideways. That was many words to say they do best in high humidity, regular potting soil, and need lots of space (especially vertically).

If you are still interested let me know or DM me. I'd be happy to send some cuttings.

[–] Fermion@feddit.nl 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thanks for the detailed response. I intentially dehumidify our living spaces so I don't think I have a spot that would match your stated requirements for the time being. I will definitely bookmark your comment in case my dreams of installing a greenhouse come to fruition in the next couple years.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Yeah, I had to run mine with lights and humidifiers.

[–] flicker@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Legit, I've always loved the idea of orchids, but I know they have a reputation, and I'm... forgetful at best.