The apparatus for inoculating agar plates includes a spray chamber having an upper opening for receiving an atomized microbial suspension and a lower opening for receiving an agar plate. The apparatus also includes an atomizer including a reservoir and a fluid tube for delivering the microbial suspension to the atomizer nozzle. A containment feature extends around an inner surface of the spray chamber to catch any drop that may form on its inner wall and advance down towards the lower opening. The spray chamber allows multiple agar plates to be quickly inoculated without cross-contamination of agar habitats, without contaminating the outside of the plates, and without contaminating the work area.