There are two types of bulbs:-
TUNICATE BULBS
 Has a compact structure of tightly fitting, overlapping, fleshy, non-photosynthetic leaf bases, and a looser, dry outer papery covering. This outer covering helps resist drying and tends to retard decay and mechanical injury. Examples include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and onions.
Tunicate bulbs may be propagated vegetatively by separating the bulblets that develop by the end of the growing season from the parent bulb. For example lift the clumps of daffodil bulbs in the autumn, and remove the parent bulb scales. This exposes the young bulblets. These bulblets can now be separated from the old withered parent bulb and flowering stalk. These small bulblets can now be planted in the autumn. They will first establish a strong root system but will not flower the first season; instead they will probably just produce leaves. They will flower with two or three years.
The Hyacinth is an example of a tunicate bulb. It offers a special type of vegetative propagation that will allow one to increase the numbers of a particularly lovely hyacinth.
First, invert the hyacinth bulb, and the basal plate of the bulb cut away with a sharp knife. Second, make a series of V-shaped cuts around the periphery of the bulb where the basal plate was removed. Third, leave the bulb exposed, and in a few days superficial tissue or callus will form. Callus develops in response to wounding, and protects the injured surface of the plant. After the callus has formed bury he bulb upside down, yes upside down in moist sand. New bulblets will regenerate from the wounds made in the base of the hyacinth bulb.
SCALY BULBS
 Scaly bulbs lack the outer protective, dry, papery covering and compact structure of the tunicate bulbs. Consequently, scaly bulbs can be damaged quite easily, and are moist. They need to be stored slightly damp, and fare best when kept in soil, vermiculite or other loose materials such as wood shavings, which serves to prevent drying. An example of a plant with a scaly bulb is the lily.
Scaly bulbs may be propagated by removing the fully turgid healthy scales one at a time, dusting the bases of each with a rooting hormone powder to induce bulblet formation at the bases of the scales. The scales are then half buried in moist sand. Here they will produce adventitious roots and buds from the scales.
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