Question
So...should I cover my Zygo Cactus Mylar with a brown paper bag for 4 weeks to "encourage" it to bloom?

Answer
Shay,

Where did you get that idea? That's Poinsettias, not Christmas Cactus. Why do you expect it to bloom this time of year? Has it in the past? To get Christmas cactus to bloom at Christmas it needs to be outside all summer, well fertilized with a blooming plant fertilizer and left out in the fall until the night temps are down close to 40 degrees. Then take it in for the night and put it back outside the next day when the temps are above 40. A month of being below 50 degrees will make it bloom for Christmas if it has been well fertilized. Two tablespoons of Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) sprinkled on top of the soil then watered in will also help trigger blooming in either plant.

If it is an Easter cactus it needs lots of sun all winter in your home and again it should be well fertilized with blooming plant fertilizer all winter. A brown paper bag will not do either plant any good. Good luck.

Darlene