Abstract: Microorganisms and tissue cells are cultured in culture media which contain a growth support. Such support is often agar. All microorganisms and tissue cells which are grown and propagated on an agar support in a culture media are also grown and propagated under the same conditions on a solid or semi-solid support, consisting essentially of an inorganic water-swellable material and water, containing the same amounts of the same materials otherwise contained by the culture medium with the agar support.