What are the advantages of solid media for bacterial growth?

There are various advantages of solid media. One key advantage is that identifying bacteria is possible by examining their colony characteristics. Bacterial colonies can exhibit different shapes and sizes. These variations may be characteristic of specific bacterial species. Another advantage is that the isolation of mixed bacteria can be achieved. This is particularly helpful when a specimen is known to have a mixture of bacterial populations. Additionally, colonies formed on solid culture can be stored for future studies or molecular typing.