It is all relative. A little cold that browns out the leaves is ok. A big temperature drop while the plant has not gone dormant is not good. The stems start to harden in the Fall and that should offer some protection to the flower buds but the plant needs to go fully dormant to provide better winter protection. The first few t4emp drops in the fall -usually- only just affect the leaves and do not faze the flower buds. I would start to get concerned at temps in the 20s.

I am not sure if the plants did not produce blooms because the flower buds were killed by the cold weather, newly potted or if they lacked moisture in the garage.

the 2 pots from last year didn't have dead buds..so they must have had adequate moisture..I've had PLENTY of brown dried dead buds on the ones growing outside..so in a warmer climate growing outside do your plants have buds along the entire stem (like mine) and stay that way until spring?

Yes but some of those buds may be actually leaf buds. The flower buds tend to be "invisible" (at first) so they are winter protected inside the stem at first. Trying to distinguish actual flower buds from leaf buds along the stems is difficult.

my buds last year grew only leaves..was hoping their immaturity was the reason (year 1 in a pot) and not a bad overwintering job..

The only way to tell for sure would be to monitor the temperture in the garage and to keep an eye on the soil moisture. I have electronic reminders set up to notify me every two weeks to water plants. I still forget sometimes but it is not as bad as before. LOL!!!!