I think you have a nute lockup. you need to find out the pH of your soil. pH a bunch of water flush that bitch. And give it some light ferts 1/4 strength. Try and figure out what it needs, sounds a little like posphorus, with the dead spots. But need pics and you need to know pH.

if you cant get a pH meter i would go get some distilled water as it has a good pH and flush the soil out real good.

cuz if your flushing with water which has a bad pH. it's not going to do much