Gold Country Orchids

In July of 2015, I made my fist purchase of orchids seedlings from Gold Country Orchids. I was so excited! But as a new hobbiest who never bought seedlings before, I didn't know what to expect. So when I noticed the little things were wobbling in their pots, I thought nothing of it. They all had tiny stakes holding them in place, after all. In hindsight, that was NOT a good sign! Only one survived past 6 months. I naturally assumed my inexperience was to blame for their demise, so I didnt complain to the vendor. Flash forward a couple of years- Ive purchased many seedlings from numerous suppliers, and have never again received such tiny, poorly established orchids from anyone else. Thank goodness. In retrospect, the plants looked as if they had been pulled out of flask the day before, and potted up just to fulfil my order! Amazingly, the one is still alive and may soon bloom for the first time. I jokingly call this one, "my most expensive orchid," because the order was $79 with shipping. When it blooms, it had better be great!

THERE IS ALOT OF POLOTICS IN THE ORCHID COMMUNITY. I have received plants from gold country that are very healthy and robust some are going into bloom now some just growing alan kotch is very knowledgeable about plant genetics and biology he has taught classes wrote books in the subject, I beleive he is an asset to the orchid community

TREAT GOLD COUNTRY ORCHIDS LIKE LEPROSY. STAY CLEAR. BUY ELSEWHERE. Instead buy from respectable sources, such as Hausermann. This an open letter to Mr. Alan Koch, Owner/General Manager, Gold Country Orchids, 390 Big Ben Rd, Lincoln, CA 95648, email address gcorchids@aol.com, 916.645.8600 describing my dissatisfaction with a recent purchase and your arrogant lack of customer service. Mr. Koch, since mid-December '12, I have repeatedly attempted to reach your company and you to discuss the diseased orchid plants purchased and shipped to me in December. You have ignored my 3 emails. a telephone voice mail message, a brief telephone conversation with one of you employees and, so far, a January 25, 2013 letter personally addressed to you. It is now March and still no response, so time has come to call "a spade, a spade." Based on my recent purchase experience, your company, Gold Country Orchids, has nothing to offer customers short of disease and frustration. On a 1 to 10 scale, you rate a "0", and even that is generous! Moreover, in my many years of dealing with online companies, and respectable businesses nationally and internationally, my recent dealings with Gold Country Orchids have the disgusting honor of being absolutely the worst, bar none. I realize a dropped communication is always possible, but ignoring a total of 6 customer requests can only be considered an arrogant and outrageous disregard of the customer. My recent experience has shown Gold Country Orchids has serious business flaws, namely: (1) You sell diseased plants, and (2) Customer service to rectify issues is non-existent, even when attempting to deal directly with you. (3) You have an arrogant disregard of customers. Needless to say, I welcome your comments regarding the diseased orchid plants you sold me and your repeated (6 time) refusal to answer my inquiries and address the issues. My December emails to your company provided descriptions of the disease and photographs were included showing the disease on the plants. I requested your assistance and input. My concerns were detailed in my emails to you and are repeated as follows: Adding insult to injury, not only did you sell me diseased orchids plants, but, more importantly, your staff and you, totally ignored my: · Three emails (December 16, and 23, 2012 & follow-up January 3, 2013), · Telephone call to your company January 4, 2013 during your posted normal business hours (message left at 916.645.8600 @ 3:03PM EST), and another telephone call about 2 weeks ago, · Letter personally addressed to you dated January 25, 2013, so far unanswered, in which I repeatedly asked for comments and assistance. As noted in all my correspondences to you, both orchid plants as delivered were infected with Phyllosticta, a highly contagious leaf fungus. Description and pictures of the diseased leaves were included for reference in my original emails dated December 16, and 23, 2012 . The diseased plants are currently isolated from the rest of my orchids and being treated with suitable systemic and protectant fungicides in an attempt to control the disease. However, the disease was well established when the plants were received so eradication without loss is unlikely. The plants really should be discarded. To say I am dissatisfied with your service, or rather lack of, is an understatement. In summary, to those potential customers who may be reviewing my comments and possibly considering a future purchase from Gold Country Orchids, I recommend they treat your company as one would deal with leprosy; namely, stay clear and buy elsewhere.

Exceptionall! I love Gold Country orchids. Interesting choices and plants that are always well grown, healthy and robust plants. Bloom easily and at a very young stage. Extremely well 'potted' - in high quality New Zealand sphagnum when appropriate; it lasts a long time without needing repotting and has tolerated a bit of neglect at times when I was busy and didn't water as often as I should have. Plants are easy to grow and difficult to 'kill'. They are well packed, potting medium covered with tape and never falls out, and plants are well wrapped and cushioned by newspaper on outside. Plants arrived in great condition. Alan Koch, the owner/hybridizer, talked at our recent Orchid Society meeting and although I have a temporary 'hold' on additional orchid purchases, the interesting selections and helathy plants tempted me and I purchased several new orchids - all in great shape and adapting to my 'in home' environment easily! Knowledgeable, helpful customer service.

I ordered their 5 budded cattleya special, the plants came carefully wrapped , taped carefully in their pots, with confetti type plastic stuff around their base, and cotton around the buds. then each plant was wrapped separately in newspaper. My only complaint is that they didn't follow my instructions about when I wanted the plants sent. I wanted them sent after Thanksgiving, so in case I wasn't home when they arrived, the could be left at the office of my apartment community. They arrived the day before Thanksgiving and were sitting at my door when I returned home.Fortunately no one took them as they will steal any thing where I live. Two of the plants buds have started opening and the other 3 have buds that are gettin ready to open in a few days. None have blasted. I would order from them again.

In a purchase of 30 plants from Gold Country Orchids.3/4 (22 plants) had no roots or nearly no roots. Approximately half of the rootless plants were yellow-green in color and were obviously not suitable for delivery. We did not request that the supplier correct the problem so a negative rating would be inappropriate, Gold Country Orchids was not afforded an opportunity to correct the problem. On the other hand, the delivery of so many plants in obviously poor condition makes a neutral rating appropriate in our view. Customer service and delivery were both positives. Our order was taken by telephone. The salesperson was both courteous and helpful. The plants were delivered quickly and were very well packaged for shipping.

Purchased a couple of very nice plants at the Houston Orchid show in April. Very helpful and nice people.