The Hyacinth is an example of a tunicate bulb. It offers a special type of vegetative propagation which 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 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 produced adventitious roots and buds from the scales.