Why is my Pepper Plant Dying?

HELP! I am asking everyone. Why is my plant dying. It was doing well and was growing a pepper. I read that I should cut the bottom leaves off, so I did that a week ago. Now it is dying. the edges of the leaves are turning brown. The pepper is fine, but stopped growing and isn't ripening. I watered it like crazy but still is dying (not wilting). I put mulch at the bottom of the pot a week ago, because I had blossom drop probably from excess nitrogen, and now it is loosing its lush green (caused by nitrogen). So I put used coffee grounds to add more nitrogen, and still nothing. All new leaves and blossoms will pop out, turn brown, shrivel up, and die. Am I doing something wrong (I probably am) or is it a virus. (These plants are in 8" pots and are indoors).