Hi tnwindmill!

The pindo palm was a success and it actually didnt have any damage. I protected it when temps went below 25F so it spent at good part of the winter out of its protection, but I also covered it every time rain or snow was in the forecast. The protection method I used was really easy to apply.
Heres what I did in steps.
1) Tie up the leaves with rope
2) Wrap a rope of x-mas lights around the palm making sure that the entire plant is covered in lights but especially on the ground, by the trunk, and the spear.
3) Add a frost cloth or something like it. I found a frost cloth at home depot (I think its called a Planket) and it was light enough to keep air flow pretty good but it was also good at keeping as much heat from the lights as possible.
4) Add a plastic garbage bin to shield your palm from precipitation and cold winter winds.

This method kept my pindo only about 20F warmer than the actual outdoor temperature but that was more than enough to keep it from ever getting too warm or cold. The bad thing about this exact protection method is it only works on young palms (mines not that old and it still barely fit), but you can use the same concept when older.
I think its really important to keep it dry which is why you should put the garbage bin on whenever rain or snow is predicted from November to March (but you only have to put the garbage bin on, not the lights or frost cloth unless its going to go below 25F).

Here it is now (well maybe about 2 weeks ago). It still looks exactly the same from last fall but the down side is that it still has not grown much. The spear is firm so it is alive, just not growing much (my sabal minors are growing faster!)

Good luck!
-Alex

My two 5 footers did great and are pushing out a ton of new growth right now. I built a 2x4 enclosure with clear plastic on the sides and a blue tarp on top for those two. When I took them down they looked exactly like when I covered them up, which was awesome! I have 3 2 footers that didn't do as well. I planted them later, they're younger, and I didn't spend a whole lot of time with them so they did ok. One is great, but the other two had spear pull, but seem to be growing well now. I treated them with peroxide a couple times and with some liquid copper last week. I cut the lower fronds off my Sago that were a tan color and still had one set of green fronds, and as soon as I did a new flush exploded. Might sound crazy but I can actually see daily growth from this new flush. One of my Pindos did great, but the other I had to get rid of several fronds that were brown. I've got a 2 trunked Mexican Fan that is interesting. One trunk had spear pull and seems dead as a door nail with nothing on it at all, and the other side is growing like a weed and bright green. Seems like if one trunk was dead they'd both be. My wife has mentioned planting our good Pindo a few times since it seems pretty cold hardy. Looks great where we have it too. Of course, she's not the one out there in the freezing rain running around the yard taking care of all these babies during the winter either. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and go for it. Your Pindo looks awesome! Maybe I'll post some pics sometime, since I always enjoy yours and the others.
Take care and keep up the good work.

Here in Lynchburg Va, All I did was cover mine. I actually kind of experimented with her to see how it would handle the cold. I did not add any heat extra mulch. I saw some damage on a few of the fronds, but nothing too bad. She is also pushing up new growth. Something to note... Just down the road in Williamsburg (a half of a zone warmer at 7b) They have many pindos at Bush Gardens - and big ones at that. I am not sure if there is any protection provided or not, but they seem to flourish...

mastiffhoo,
How did you cover it? I covered my 5' windmills with enclosures but they were a pain. I've heard you really don't need newly planted Pindos getting wet during the winter. I have C9 Xmas lights, a thermocube and all that stuff if necessary, but I never even used it last winter on anything, which was ridiculously cold compared to average. Just covered them up from the wind and rain. Thanks to you and TZ7, my 2 in my pool planter are thriving, since I asked for advice before it was too late. My over watering and some bad leafspot did some serious damage before I got it under control. As soon as I quit watering them last year and sprayed for leafspot with liquid copper, they have been good to go. If you have time I'd love some details about how you got your Pindo through the winter. The one I may plant is pretty much exactly like the one pictured by TZ7. I got it from the same supplier.
Thanks guys. I know I'd have 2 nice windmills dead right now if it weren't for your advice.

Im happy to hear that your windmill palms survived well especially after this past brutal winter and Im happy that the advice we all gave worked! Pindo palms are really beautiful palms (especially considering there cold tolerance) so I think you should definitely go for it! I hope you have lots of success with them and I dont think you will have a probelm getting it to fruit one day.

Good luck!
-Alex

I had an enclosure - just wood and clear plastic... The top is open, but i covered it when it rain/snowed with a simple poncho. This is the 2nd year I used the enclosure, and already may be to big for next winter.

I built a leaf cage around my Pindo and although it survived, most of the fonds looked horrid once I unwrapped it. Greenish-black and rotten looking. It became apparent that leaving the top open exposed it to too much moisture. So this winter I am going a different route (i.e. a roof).

Anyway, the Pindo itself is recovering nicely.