Greenhouse floriculture operations pose significant environmental risk due to extensive inputs of fertilizer, especially nitrogen and phosphorus (P). Recent evidence shows that the use efficiency for nitrogen or sulphur is markedly improved in subirrigated potted chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) by supplying a moderate level of the nutrient during vegetative growth, and removing the entire nutrient suite at the onset of reproductive growth, without adverse effects on plant quality. Here, two split-plot experiments were conducted with subirrigated, potted, disbudded chrysanthemums grown in a peat:perlite mixture under greenhouse conditions (high- or low-ambient light) with inorganic orthophosphate (P_i) treatment (2.6 mmol L^-1 P_i supplied during the vegetative and reproductive stages, and 2.6, 1.95, or 1.3 mmol L^-1 P_i supplied during the vegetative stage only) as the main plot and cultivar (‘Olympia’ and ‘Covington’) as the subplot. Market quality plants with sufficient tissue P were produced even when P_i delivery was reduced by approximately 75% over the crop cycle, compared with industry standards. The primary mechanism for sustaining plant growth with decreasing P_i delivery was improved acquisition or uptake efficiency, although some changes in internal P-utilization efficiency were evident, including the remobilization of both organic P and P_i during inflorescence development. Differences in biomass yields, tissue P concentrations, content-based P-use efficiency (PUE_C = mg shoot dry mass/mg shoot P content) with constant P_i acquisition, and uptake- versus remobilization-based P supply for inflorescence growth established that ‘Olympia’ has a greater P-utilization efficiency than ‘Covington’. This modified subirrigation practice could contribute significantly to low-input production of floricultural crops.