Phal with yellow leaves and black base
 

I purchased a new Phal with 2 flowering spikes a few weeks ago. Last week a lower leaf turned yellow and it came off easily. A second leaf is turning yellow. The bases of the leaves have something black on them.

Is this crown rot? If so, is there anything I can do to save it?

If you had crown rot then the top leaves would be the ones affected not the bottom leaves. Your Phal is just stressed and is taking the nutrients and water from the oldest leaves.

What are your growing conditions?

Read through some of an excellent thread here. From the left yellow menu select Forums then Beginners. Near the top find a sticky thread, The Phal. abuse stops here.

Thanks. I guess that is good news. It did have some leaves to spare as it had four layers.