The typical habitat of this species is summit scrub vegetation as well as lower and upper montane mossy forest. It always grows terrestrially, often in open sites such as ridge tops and cliff sides, where it is exposed to direct sunlight. The species is rare in blangs, where the lack of surrounding vegetation means the stems scramble along the ground. Nepenthes mikei may be difficult to find on Mount Pangulubao, where it is sympatric with N. gymnamphora (N. xiphioides), N. ovata, and N. spectabilis. On Mount Bandahara, where it is common above 2400 m, it grows alongside N. diatas. Natural hybrids with all of these species have been recorded. At another location, which is undisclosed for conservation purposes, N. mikei grows alongside N. flava.