With proper care, Easter lilies can be saved for next year.

The blossoms on your Easter lily are starting to fade. You look at the plant and wonder, “Now what?”

Here’s what you can do.

After the last flower has withered, cut it off and keep the plant growing indoors until the weather warms up.

After danger of frost has passed, place Easter lilies in 6- to 8-inch-deep soil in a well-drained sunny location and water them. Lilies like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. Mulch around the plant at least 2 inches deep to keep the roots moist and protected.

It is important to let the leaves and stems die back naturally in order to replenish the nutrients and energy needed for next year’s growth. Once they turn brown, cut off the stems of the original plant and wait for the new growth to begin. It is unlikely your lily will re-bloom this year, but look for it in subsequent years to bloom in June or July.

Fertilize monthly with a slow-release fertilizer when the new shoots emerge, and continue until they flower in the spring. Apply the fertilizer 3 inches away from the stem and water.