How to Get Your Christmas Cactus (Zygocactus) to Bloom

Reader asks if covering Christmas cactus with a brown paper bag for 4 weeks forces bloom. Expert Darlene: that's for poinsettias. Christmas cactus needs summer outdoors, bloom fertilizer, fall nights near 40°F for a month to set buds. Epsom salts (2 tbsp) watered in helps. Easter cactus needs winter sun and fertilizer. Brown bag does nothing.